THE MISSING AIRMEN

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 89, 13 January 1928, Page 10

THE MISSING AIRMEN

WIDESPREAD SEARCH BEING MADE CO OPERATION BY AIR, SEA AND LAND DIOMEDE ORDERED TO SEA: PARTIES LEAVING FOR TARARUAS Not a trace of the missing airmen has been reported, and with the passing of the second day since the flight started hope of their ’ safety is rapidly dwindling. No news must be regarded as bad news in their case, and-the sole remaining chances of their, being alive are . , the faint ones that they succeeded in landing in some remote part of the- western coast-line of New Zealand, or that there was something ’ in the reports of an aeroplane and lights having been seen from Paekakariki, Stephen Island, or the steamer Kaiwarra, and that the airmen were forced to come- down in the mountain ranges near Wellington. ".The wives of the niissiug fliers are convinced in the story of the Paekakariki observers. ; ■ If the airmen were forced down at sea before reaching the coast it is incredible that they can be afloat and .alive after long'exposure, even if their ’plane or their rubber raft floated. A widespread and systematic search is being made by air, sea, and land. Two aeroplanes, in charge of experienced flying officers, are working from Trentham and Blenheim, respectively. Yesterday , . they each made a long flight and covered- very wide and overlapping areas, covering Cook) Strait and its approaches, the West Coast as far. north as Foxton, and the Tararua and Rimutaka_ ranges, southward from Masterton to Palliser Bay, and all the contiguous country. The tug Toia has searched the sea coast as ,far as Cape Egmont, and is now working off shore. H.M.S, Dunedin left Auckland yesterday morning', 'arid is to be followed by H.M.S. Diomede. They will work down the Tasman Sea from • Cape Maria Van Diemen, and will thoroughly search a wide area from the coast to the westward . . as they come south, i , Large search parties, organised- by the Tararua Tramping Club, -left yesterday, and will comb the wild, rugged fastnesses of the ranges over a wide area between the Wairarapa and the West Coast: All that is humanly possible js being done to find- the airmen if they are alive or some trace of them that will give a clue to their fate. The closest watch is being maintained at all outlying postal or telephone offices along the west coasts of both islands for news of the missing men, Mr. A. McNicol has replied to the Prime Minister’s view that the aviators’ plans were ill-prepared, this question is discussed in the light of experience of other long-distatice fliers.