THE SEARCH STARTED

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

THE SEARCH STARTED

BY AIR, SEA, AND LAND TWO AEROPLANES WORKING WARSHIP AND TUG TO CO-OPERATE A wide net is being cast for traces of the missing airmen. Two aeroplanes from the Wigram Aerodrome, operating from Trentham and Blenheim, 'respectively, are making a series of flights covering great stretches of sea, coast-line, and mountain ranges. The Harbour Board’s tug Toia, which sailed on Wednesday afternoon from Wellington, is being assisted by the close look-out maintained by shipping. H.M.S. Dunedin left Auckland at midday yesterday, and is speeding on her way to assist in the general search.

The Aeroplanes’ Work Yesterday. Captain Buckley, who arrived at Blenheim on Wednesday afternoon from Christchurch, went up on his ’plane at 10.45 a.m. yesterday, and made a four hours’ cruise. He worked along the sea coast past Jackson Head and Stephen Island to Kapiti Island, and as far north as .Foxton Heads. He then swept the sea to the southward, and from Stephen Island flew across to Farewell Spit. The visibility was not good at sea, and he saw no trace of the missing airmen. He arrived back, at Blenheim at 2.44 p.m., and was preparing to go out again after overhauling his engine. The-visibility was improving during the afternoon. Captain Findlay flew up from Christchurch yesterday morning, arriving at Trentham at 1.30 p.m. His machine was clearly visible as he passed over Wellington, and it was watched with great interest. After refuelling aiid tuning-up h'is engine he left Trenthim at 2.40 .p.m. Flying over the hills, he made the sea coasts, and searched from Mana and Kapiti Islands northward to Foxton. He then flew inland and over the Tararuas to Masterton. He then turned south and followed the line of the Tararua and Rimutaka ranges, thence round Lake Wairarapa -to Orongorongo and the entrance to Palliser Bay, and from there _ to the harbour entrance, across the city, and back to the West Coast and Stephen Island, finally returning direct to Trentham. He kept a careful look-out, but saw no trace of the missing men or itheir j machine. The Toia’s Cruise. | The Harbour Board’s tug Toia, after leaving Wellington made a careful search along the coast as far as Cape Egmont, and yesterday • was standing out to sea on a zig-zag course, keeping a sharp look-out all the time. Up till last night she had seen nothing of the missing ’plarie, although the visibility was fairly good. H.M.S. Dunedin at Sea. \ . , When H.M.S. Dunedin comes south down the west coast of the North Island she will keep a strict watch all the way. The plans of Captain Swabey have not been made known, but it is understood that the Toia will work in close co-operation with the cruiser in order to ensure a wide area being carefully swept. A MONSTER SEARCH TARARUA AND RIMUTAKA RANGES

TRAMPERS’ PARTIES ORGANISED The Tararua Tramping Club, under the leadership of Mr. F. W. Vosseler, has organised a very strong party to go into the Tararua Range in the event of tho searching aeroplane discovering anv signs of the missing aviators. The Defence Department yesterday expressed the wish, however, that parties should go out immediately to search this rugged country, and as far as possible this is being done. Quite a number of parties are already out, and others are leaving at the earliest possible moment this morning. A party is being sent from Masterton to search in the direction of Mt. Holdsworth, from which a large area can be scanned. Another party from Greytown, under Mr. Maclean, will traverse the area between Woodside and Alpha, crossing Mount Reeves and/a portion of the Tanherenikau Valley. A party of members of the Tararua Tramping Club, under Mr,' L. Cross, has gone by Otaki Forks, and will traverse the ranges via Hector to Alpha, and then will probably come down the Quoin Ridge. Another party under Messrs. Mealand and Fvfe will traverse the Tararua* from Kaitoke to Alpha, and will probably meet the preceding party and will also make a search in the direction they think advisable.

A party of "rovers” is leaving to search the high country east and west of Kaitoke, in the direction of Mungaroa, and what is commonly known as the Rimutaka Range. .

A party under the leadership of Mr. J. Murphy will search Kapakapanui, a high peak at the rear of Waikanae, from which an excellent view of the western side of the Tararua Range can be ob-

:ained. A party under Mr. Lancaster is leaving Levin to traverse the Ohau River and ascend Dundas and search in the vicinity. Mr. Cobb, of Wellington, has gone to Featherston, where he will arrange with local people to search the high country between Featherston and the Tararuas and between the Sunirnit and Wairongomai. Tile Orongorongo territory is being carefully scanned by Mr. J. Bain, who will traverse Mt. Matthews and the ; country in the vicinity. This is the most comprehensive search yet undertaken in the Tararua Ranges. The leaders of each party are experi- ' enced men, who have been selected for particular areas because of their special ; knowledge. They have most excellent weather conditions for their search, and t is expected of them that if they find any signs of the missing aviators they will send a portion of their, party to report immediately so that medical and other proper assistance can be dispatched without delay. The officials of the Tararua Tramping Club are doing their utmost, and recognise they have a particularly difficult task, but are hoping that if the aviators are there they will be in such a position, and the conditions will be such, that the searchers will be able to find them. A very great number of people hold the opinion that the evidence of the possibilities of the aviators being in the Tararua Ranges is so strong that a very ' thorough search of the range ought to be made. * Officials of the Tararua Tramping Club have been given very little peace by hosts of inquirers, who in many instances have offered to place their services and motor-cars at their disposal. The parties will be out for two days, as they are in the nature of flying parties, but any of them will be able to give sustenance to the aviators should they be found, and care for them until help arrives. • Most of the tramping parties have been advised not to light large fires, as there is a risk of these being mistaken by other searchers as coming from the missing men, but in the event of a party finding them they wilb.light a fire which will give a dense volume of smoke as 'a signal. DIOMEDE TO JOIN DUNEDIN

SECOND CRUISER WILL LEAVE TO-DAY The Minister of Defence (Hon. F. I J. Rolleston) announced last night that H.M.S. Diomede would leave Auckland at 11 a.m. to-day and would steam at 24 knots per hour to join H.M.S. Dunedin ‘at the place of search. The Dunedin is due to arrive ' this morning at the point from, which signals were last supposed to have been- heard. It is explained that the crews of both ships were on- leave until to-day, and this is why it was impossible to dis- / patch them earlier. SEARCH AT FAREWELL SPIT The following telegram was received yesterday from Mr. A. L. Hunt, of Wellington, who is at present on holiday on the West Coast: — "Self, E. C. Alderson, and H. R. Young yesterday searched the 15 jniles north side Farewell Spit for traces airmen without result.” MACHINE EQUAL TO TASK MAJOR DE HAVILAND’S ’ OPINION Sydney, January 12.

Major de Haviland, who inspected the Aotea-Roa at Melbourne, said that unless the machine developed defects on the journey he considered it equal to the. task of crossing the Tasman. It impressed him as being most suitable for the flight, and given ordinary .luck he could discover no reason why it should not reach its destination. If it had been forced to descend on the sea and made a good landing, it should float for some hours, particularly if the airmen were able to empty their petrol tanks. Even if the machine crashed in the sea and the wings were broken it should float for two or three hours. SCOUTS TO ASSIST. Rovers of Ist Wellington (Boy Scouts) who can spare the time are requested to meet at the General Post Office, with full packs, at 9 o’clock this morning, with the object of searching the Rihiutakas, in conjunction with the Tararua Tramping Club. Full particulars mav be obtained by ringing telephone 25—035.