FEARS FOR SAFETY OF FRENCH DIRIGIBLE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8478, 27 December 1923, Page 3

FEARS FOR SAFETY OF FRENCH DIRIGIBLE

KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN ALOFT OVER 150 HOURS.

Pres? Assoc. By 'Teh Copyright

A list.— N.Z. Cable Assoc. Paris. Dec. 25

Some anxiety is felt as to the fate of the big French dirigible Dixmude..

The crew of forty which left Criers aerodrome on Thursday on a 72hcurs' test cruise over Algeria, were ;■nbs( quentlv ordered by the Ministry cf-Marine net toieturn to France owing to strong winds eff the coast of Algeria.

The Ministry has new received a wireless message that the airship is over the Golfe de Gabes, Tunis, appealing for help. Three vessels were despatched for the spot. The military wireless station at Gabes at nightfall indicated that the- Dixmudc, which was then near Medenine, had located a place there where she ecu Id land.

The Dixrnudt- is the ex-Zeppelin L 72.

The cuiiser Mu!house, and other vessels proceeded to tire Golte do Gabes to l render assistance 1 . Later advices show that Ihr Dixmude seems to have ' disappeared. Messages from Tunis state that the Dixmudo is no longer in sight from the landing 1 ground at Medenine, near the Golfe de Gabes. No replies are 1 being obtained from wireless or flares. It is feaerd the airship may be out cf control, as the commander yesterday signalled: “Petrol running out ; several of the crew ill.’’ Another report says the airship is damaged, and drifting seaward in a violent gale.

DIXMUDE STILL ALOFT. Paris, Dec. 25.

The Ministry of Marine is still without news of the giant dirigibe Dixmude, which with its large, crew has been drifting helplessly over the coast of Northern Africa, for four days.

Newspapers believe the commander of the Dixmude, instead of attempting to land near M.eclinine, would continue to Baranki, near Algiers, where he may obtain sufficient food and fuel to ' return to France. Meanwhile a violent- westcily wind is blowing. - This is nullifying estimates regarding her probable course.

The Maritime Prefect in Toulon report ed that the Dixmude was sight c-d yesterday near Toiaouin. _ The commander i s apparently remaining in control of the ship, but the Dixmude has not replied to wireless messages. Furthermore it is feared a landing would: be difficult in view of the mountainous nature of the region. Air officials asserted that the Dixiniido has already established a record for sustained flight, since it is known positively that she has been aloft over 150 hours.