MISSING CLIMBERS

Grey River Argus, 26 March 1943, Page 4

MISSING CLIMBERS

NO FURTHER TRACE. P.A. TIMARU, March 25. Although an intensive ground and air search has been made there is still no, sign of the missing climbers. Sergeant W. P. Morton and Leading Aircraftman W. F. Wallis, members of [ an Air Force station, who have been i missing in tfae Malte Brun region of Mount Cook for the past six days. Experienced mountaineers combed th e glacier and found footprints in one spot but otherwise no trace of the men. CLIMBERS AND PLANES IN SEARCH. CHRISTCHURCH, March 25. No further trace has been found of the two climbers missing in the Malte Brun area since footprints were discovered by a search party on Malte Brun peak on Tuesday. The footprints were discovered at a height of 8000 feet, but bad weather forced the party to descend. There are now eight mountaineers, with headquarters at the Malte Brun Hut, taking part in the search, which is confined to a fairly definite area, as there is a recognised route for the ascent of Mount Malte Brun. However, there are a number of possible deviations from the route, any one of which the missing men mav have taken. The searchers have enough provisions to 1 last for several days, but it is belived that should they fail to locate the missing men by Sunday they will return to The Hermitage. They are all well acquainted with the mountain, and will be able to make an intensive search of all places in which th e two climbers may have been lost. Constable A. Mackintosh, of Fairlie, is in charge of the civilian search party.

The Air Force is co-operating in the search, and a system of smoke signals between searcher on the ground and aircraft has been arranged for communication between the searchers at the Malte Brun Hut and The Hermitage. x , The weather yesterday was fairly good for the continuance of the search, although there was a strong wind in the afternoon. Reports from The Hermitage late last night indicated that fine weather prevailed, and that there appeared to be no likelihood of a change to-day.