BOMB TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 131, 4 June 1924, Page 5

BOMB TRAGEDY

THE PILOT'S DESPAIR

THOUGHTS OF "ENDING IT"

'JOUBERT'S GOOD RECORD.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT.)

(REDIER'S TELEGRAM.) (Received 4th June, 10 a.m) CAPETOWN, 3rd June.

At the inquiry into the Kuruman disaster, the pilot, Lieut. Joubert, stated in his evidence that it was an accident and he was an "instrument of fate." He said- that after the accident he thought of crashing /and ending'the whole thing, but the thought.of the passenger behind him restrained him.

Sir Pierre Van Rynveld, Director of the Air Service, said there was an order forbidding flying, over crowds. Lieut.' Joubert had an excellent record in the service.

While a review of commandos at Kuruman was progressing a bomb fell from Joubert's aeroplane, killing five and wounding thirty-two, smostly slightly. . Extraordinary interest was being taken in the tragedy. It is stated that when the explosion occurred certain people ran about the,camp crying out that it was no accident, but a scheme of the Government. A meeting was held that night, at which a threatening attitude was adopted.: