NO TRACE FOUND

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 71, 25 March 1931, Page 9

NO TRACE FOUND

MISSING AEROPLANE

SCOURING THE COUNTRY

MELBOURNE, 24th March,

Searchers who were out in the hills all night failed to find any trace of tho missing Southern Cloud. Many men, acompanied by dogs, climbed the highest peaks of the Strathbogie Bangcs in the hope of observing flares or fire signals, but without success.

Air-Commodore Kingsford Smith, in tho Southern Suu, left Holbrook and searched over tho Strathbogie Kauges and tho Yea district, flying more than 300 miles and finding no trace of the missing liver. All 'planes went out from the Essendon aerodrome again this morning, but dense clouds hampered the search. Largo parties left Yea by car and on foot to search the Flowerdale district. There is plenty of ground for those men to cover —ground which cannot observed closely from the air. The country abounds iv deep ravines, densely timbered, and it would be impossible to sec the ground through the branches from a 'plane. The Air Force and civil 'planes are working on a definite plan, and are systematically combing a largo area comprising the most rugged country in the whole State.

VARIOUS RUMOURS,

A report has been received that a crush was hoard iv the tall timber near Thornton oh Sugarloaf Mountain at about 5.15 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. A man, Alfred Post, says ho heard tho drone of the Southern Cloud's engines, the sound indicating that the lnaelrino was close. "Then there was a tremendous crash, and from the sound I though tho 'plane had come down on tho edge of Bubicon forest." A farmer at Kingslak© has reported that ho saw a flare in that locality on Saturday night. Residents of North-east Victoria who saw tho Southern Cloud on Saturday, battling with the storm, are confident that tho machine had lost its bearings. Tho Tallangatta postmaster reports that residents saw the air-liner over Mullens about <i p.m., and heard the roar of its engines, which later were cut out. They think the 'plane was forced down between Eskdale and the Bogong high plains.

All searching 'planes are carrying compressed food rations and medical equipment, which they will drop by means of small parachutes should the missing machine be- found. Most pilots believe that the air-liner is down in the Kinglake district. The search has been intensified in that region, but what is regarded as the first definite information has been received from Essendon. HEARD OVERHEAD. I"1, lltzallen, an Aero Club pilot, has stated that he was fishing at Eildon Weir at about 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoon when 3ie heard the Southern Cloud pass overhead. Fitzallen is an experienced pilot and knows the Southern Cloud woll. Kingsford Smith, in the Southern Sun, left Essendon at 4,15 o'clock this afternoon for Eildon Weir with Fitzallen, the actress, Miss Bertha Rieardo (wife of Clyde Hood, one of the passengers in the missing 'plane), and two observers aboard. i

Eildon Weir is situated at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain, 60 miles northeast of Melbourne.

An official of the Hurt Aviation Company lias worked out the petrol consumption of the Southern Cloud since it left Mascot on Saturday, and has compared it with the time the machine was last reported. He believes it is possible that the machine flow out to sea in the storm. A search of the coast, however, has failed to reveal anything.

About 25 'planes are- now searching. Weather conditions aro bad.

SIGNIFICANT REPORT,

A significant report came in this afternoon. A ranger on Mount Hotham named Spargo said ho could see two white objects on the side of Mount Howitt, some miles away. From Constable M'Millan, of Omeo, a similar report was received. Both state that the objects were not there some days ago.

Constable M'Millan is setting out with experienced bushmen and expects to reach, the objects to-morrow afternoon.

Spargo reported that the object he saw appeared to be the wing of a 'plane. To the naked eye it looked a yard square, and was shining in the sun.

Flight-Lieutenant Ulm and Captain Holdcn arrived at Essendon at 5 p.m. The latter intends going out in tho Southern Star immediately to investigate.