SEARCHERS HOPEFUL

Hawera Star, Volume L, 26 March 1931, Page 9

SEARCHERS HOPEFUL

- MISSING “SOUTHERN CLOUD” KING9FORD SMITH CONFIDENT RUMOURS DEPRECATED (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.! Received noon to-day. 9RDNEY, March 26. Mr F. H. Stewart, chairman of the National Airways, while admitting the seriousness of the position, states lie is .still hopeful that Captain Shortridge was able to put the “Southern Cloud - ’ down, saving the .passengers. He recalls that Ivingsford Smith and Ulm were lost for twice as long as the “Southern Cloud” and then found. The company had the same faith in Captain Short ridges’s [ability. Air Stewart deprecated harmful and unfounded rumours; circulated about the fate of the “Southern Cloud,” which were causing pain to those closely associated with the missing crew and passengers. Air Commodore Kingsford Smith, commenting on yesterday’s work, said that the search was hampered by bad weather, and many conflicting reports as to places where supposed signs' of the ’plane had been seen had caused a division of the searchers, which meant that some were spending their efforts vainly. He is confident that the “Southern Cloud’’ will be found within the next two days, hut is fearful for the occupants’' fate.

REWARD OFFERED AIKLBOURiNE, March 26. A reward lias been offered for information of the whereabouts of the “Southern Cloud.” An area extending from Pa ss. Strait to Canberra has been plotted out for search to-day, although the greater portion has been combed already ATr Litchfield, Kingsford Smith’s “Southern Cross’.’ navigator, said that the “Southern Cloud” might have been blown far out of her course during Saturday’s storm. If Captain Shortridge had been flying blind he could easily in a 50-mile wind, have drifted 50 miles an hour.