JUST IN TIME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 207, 2 September 1936, Page 7

JUST IN TIME.

AIR FORCE RESCUE.

Ordeal of Passengers and Crew Of Lost Machine. DEW GATHERED OFF WINGS. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, September 1. The eiglit passengers who were aboard the Imperial Airways liner Horsa when it made a forced landing between Basra and Bahrein, have arrived here. They looked dishevelled and haggard and were not inclined to discuss their experiences. One said that Royal Air Force 'planes located the Horsa not a minute too soon. It was impossible to say how many could have withstood the ordeal j much longer. Some might even have j died. The passengers will depart for their various destinations after resting for a night. Mr. F. Crocombe, aircraft designer, was among the passengers. He said the pilot made a good landing in darkness but, while taxi-ing, struck a hillock. The rations aboard consisted of a few sandwiches, a small quantity of bottled water, chocolates and mineral water, on which eight passengers and four of a crew lived for 30 hours. The heat was intense in the daytime, which was spent under the wings of the machine. The pilot fainted from exhaustion and the second officer collapsed from a heart attack. Passengers collected dew from the wings a few hours before the arrival of the Royal Air Force relief machine which brought waterbags. Rescue by Mere Chance. The Horsa was discovered by the luckiest chance. An Air Force machine had turned back towards Bahrein after an apparently vain search when a sudden break in the clouds enabled the Horsa to be picked out. Tli'e passengers were exhausted by days of heat and rested on the lower 'plane, taking turns to roll to the edge to receive the coolness of tlie dew falling from the upper 'plane. Dew was also collected in sponges and squeezed into thermos flasks to eke out the small water supply, which was rationed immediately it was realised that rescue might be delayed. The metal work of the Horsa could not be touched during the day owing to the heat. The nearest habitation was' a native village 20 miles distant. Black scorpions were the only living! things seen until the' rescuers arrived. EMPIRE JUNCTION. Difficulty of Finding Most Suitable Site. SEQUEL TO NEW TREATY. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, September 1. The Australian Associated Press understands that Imperial Airways' difficulties in finding the nearest junction for the Empire routes have been increased owing to the British demilitarisation of Cairo under the new treaty between Britain and Egypt. Cairo was among the most favoured sites before the treaty, but it is now considered that Alexandria will be the likely choice. MAIL ARRANGEMENTS. SEQUEL TO 1 'PLANE DELAY. (Received 12 noon.) SYDNEY, this day. The Postal Department advises that as the 'plane which left London on August 22 is running more than 48 hours late, a Qantas 'plane left Singapore yesterday for Darwin without the mails from the Imperial Airways service. These mails will connect with the south-bound 'plane due to leave Singapore next Friday. ATLANTIC FLIGHT. KENYA WOMAN'S PROJECT. British Official Wireless. (Received 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, September 1. Mrs. Beryl Markliam, of Kenya, who contemplates making a solo flight across the Atlantic, has chosen the Abingdon aerodrome, Berkshire, as her place of departure. Her reason is that it provides space for the extra long run required by her machine, which will be overloaded with fuel at the start. Mrs. Markham postponed her flight until to-morrow on account of adverse weather reports.