THE MARTINSYDE TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 72, 18 December 1919, Page 9

THE MARTINSYDE TRAGEDY

NO SIGN OF MISSING AIRMEN

LOST THEIR WAY IN THE MIST

(By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright London, lec-ember 10. Captain Howell's 'aeroplane was found half a mile from the shore, in five fathoms of water. • The log shows that it flew for eight hours, rnd tho aviators' evidently lost their way. Their petrol was sufficient for .eight hours' flight.Mystery surrounds the fato of Captain Howell and T'razer. There are no details beyond a brief lelegr.im received by Lloyds. Tho firm of Martinsydc, Ltd.. has instituted further iu<|uiries from, all available source,-:, including the Air Ministry's representatives and the . liritish Ministry at Allien*. The Press agencies point.out that although the telegram definitely stales Hint (hero is no hope for Ihe survivors, ihe .mly evidence mentioned is the finding of Ihe log-book. Martinsydc, Ltd.. are anxiously awaiting news of the discovery of wreckage. The machine was capable cf floating for at. least two hours. Although the worst is feared, ilino is still hope that Ihe airmen may have been picked up. Howell,in a letter from Tnranto, said be was in the highest spirits, and.reported that the. engine was running cplendidly. Howell was married three years ago. His wife will probably not be informed until she. arrives in Australia. Francr was not married.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable-Assn. - REPORT.BY AIR MINISTRY. . London, December IG. The Air Ministry - leports that the Martinsyde aeroplane fell into the sea at S o'clock on the ninth.. An Italian motorboat and fishermen arrived too.late. The bodies of the aviators have not yet been recovered. The machine can be salvaged. The log shows a tragic record of a "search for direction, and. circular flying, in the mists. The aviators twice crossed the land ivithout knowing it,— "The Times,'' ROSS-SMITH LOCATED OVEEHAULIXG HIS ENGINE. Darwin, December 1". tt is now surmised that Captain RossSmith is at Anthony's Lagoon, overhauling his engine.—Press Assn. ..''. (Rec. December 17, il.lo p.m.) Sydney, December 17. ■ Cnutain Koss-Sm.'th is safe..at Anthonv's Lagoon. He was forced to land owing to a damaged propeller. PorlunatelV he met-a boring contractor en route south.-who is repairing the pronellcr with hoop-iron. Captain RossSmith will continue his (light when the woneller has been mended —Prcs Assn. KANGAROO BREAKS DOAVN. ' (Rec. December,Jß, 1.20 a.m.) London. December IG. Lieut. Poodle cable 1 -- from Crete that (he- main oil pipe of the Dlaek'buni Kiin-S-arco eircine is broken, the connecting rods are broken, the crank-ea-c is holed, and the engine useless.-.A complete new one is uccfK-.iry. Friends 'of Lieul. Wilkin- ure negotiating with the Rolls-Royce people, bul it is exiiectcd that they w'll iibaiubn Ihe expedition.—"The Times." AN AMAZING SPEED RECORD (Rec. December 18, 1.20 a.m.) - Paris, December IG. M. Sadi Le Cninte. Hying at Villa Coublay, averaged 307 kilometres, 225 '.metres per hour' for several secon.ls, touching the, amazing fate of ■ 361 kilo- . met res 055 melref..—Aus.-N./*.' • Cable

BRITISH AIR FORCE ESTIMATES . HINT'TO TUP, SOl'Tir. APPICAN MILLIONAIRES. London, December 15. The House of Commons has passed tho Air Force votes. Mr. Winston Churchill, Minister for War, said that the Air Estimates for the current year totalled fifty-four millions. It was calculated that it would take five years to nut the Air Force on a nermancnl\bnsis. There would be a joint Imperial War Staff ..for tho three air services, so that there would ihe single control. It was tho first duty of the Air Forces to garrison the Empire. Ho cnn-- ! .dered that it was rot the duty of the Government lo tiive. mauls to promote civil aviation. Tho Cane to Cairo air route had been completed, and it only needed an incentive to induce aviators to fly over lhat route. He s'.iggosteel that tho Rand, millionaires should.-'give a prb.a similar to that given by (he Australian Government— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.