MISSING PLANE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1931, Page 6

MISSING PLANE

NO TRACE YET. MORE JOIN IN SEARCH. (Australian Press Association.) MELBOURNE, March 24. The searchers who were out in the hills all last night tailed to find any trace of the missing plane “Southern Cloud.” Many men, mounted and accompanied by dogs, climbed the highest peaks in the Strathbogie Ranges in the hope of observing Hares or tire signals, but without success.

Kingston! Smith in the “Southern Sun” left Holbrook, and searched over the Strathbogie Ranges and the Yea district, flying more than three hundred miles, and finding no trace of the missing liner. All of the planes went out from the Essendon Aerodrome again this morning, but dense clouds hampered the search.

Large parties left Yea by car and on foot to search the Klowerdale district. There is plenty of ground for these men to cover which cannot bo observed closely from the air. The Flowerdale country abounds in deep ravines, that are densely timbered arid it would be impossible to see the ground through the branches from a plane. Air Force and civil planes, working on a. definite plan, are systematically combing a large area comprising the most rugged country in the whole State of Victoria. CRASH HEARD. MELBOURNE, March 24. A report has been received that a crash was heard in some tall timber near Thornton, on th e Sugarloaf Mountain. The crash was heard about •5.15 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. Alfred Post details how he heard the drone of the “Southern Cloud” engines, indicating tliate it was very close. “Then,” he said “there was a tremendous crash, and from the sound, I thought the plane had come down on the edge of the Rubicon Forest.”

A 'farmer at Kingslake reported that he saw a fire in that locality on Saturday night. Residents of North-East Victoria who saw the “Southern Cloud’” on Saturday battling with the storm, are confident that the machine had lost its bearings. The Tallangatta Postmaster reports that residents there saw the air liner over Mullens about four o’clock, and heard the roar of its engines, which were later cut out. They think that the plane was forced down between Eskdale and Bogoug, on the high plains. SEEN BY A PILOT. MELBOURNE, March 24. What is regarded as the first definite information of the Southern Cloud has been received at Essendon, where F. Fit/.allen, an Aero Club pilot, stated that he was fishing at Eildon Weir at about five o’clock on Saturday afternoon, when he heard the Southern Cloud pass overhead. Fitzallon is an experienced pilot, and he knows the Southern Cloud well.

Smith in the Southern Sun, left Essendon at 4.15 o’clock this afternoon for Eildon Weir with pilot Eitzallen, the actress, Miss Bertha Riccardo (who is the wife of Clyde Hood, one of the passengers in the missing plane), and two observers aboard.

, Eildon Weir is situated at the foot of the Sugarloaf Mountain, which is •sixty miles north-east of Melbourne. MANY PLANES OUT. MELBOURNE, March. 24. About twenty-five planes are now searching for the Southern Cloud. The weather conditions are. had. A SCENE OF INTENSE SEARCH. MELBOURNE. March 24. In their search .for the Southern Cloud all searching planes are carrying compressed food rations and medical equipment, which they can drop by means of a small parachute should the missing plane he found. Most of the pilots believe that Hie air liner came down in the King slake district. The search is being intensified in that region. BID SHE ELY TO SEA ?

MELBOURNE, March 24. Mr Hart, of the Hart Aviation Company, said that, having worked ont th c petrol consumption of the Southern Cloud since she left Mascot on Saturday, and having compared it with the times when the machine was last reported, he believes that it is a possibility that the machine flew out to sea in the storm. A search of the coast, however, has failed to reveal anything. PILOT BRAIN’S OPINION 'A LANDING ON SOME BEACH . SYDNEY. March 24. Pilot Brain, the Chief Pilot for the Quant as Service brought the Brisbane air mail to Sydney to-day. there being no Australian National Airways machine on the service. “I am inclined to the belief that Pilot Shr.rtridge who is a very sl:il-

ful pilot, put his machine down - somewhere without injuries to th c passengers,” he said. “It- is likely* that he found his way to the coast and landed on a quiet beach somewhere or other.” Sydney aviation experts are inclined to believe that Pilot Shortridge may have landed on the beach.

OBJECT ON MOUNTAIN, IS IT THE PLANE.* MELBOURNE, March 24. A significant report came this afternoon from Mr Sparge, a Ranger on Mount Hot.ham. He said he could see two white objects on the. side ol Mount Mowitt, some miles away. From Constable McMillan, at Omoo, a similar report was received. Both state the objects were not there some days itgo. Constable McMillan is setting outwit It experienced bush men and he expects to reach the object to-morrow afternoon. Ranger Sparge reported that the object lie saw appeared to he the wing of a plane. To the naked eye it looked a yard square, and was shining in the

Ultn and Holden arrived at Essendon at five o’clock. The latter intends going out- in the Southern Star immediately to investigate.

NO WORD YET. FURTHER ARRANGEMENTS SYDNEY, March 25. Uj» to a late hour there was no word of the Southern Cloud. - Arrangements have been made for the Southern Star to he taken off the Brisbano-Sydney s'et'vice to join in the search. Tile pintle will be equipped with medical supplies and a wireless receiving and transmitting apparatus. A doctor wil Ibc carried and the machine will make an intense search of the area not already scouted. The Southern Sky, which is the last available machine of the company will join in the search. SEARCH CONTINUES. (Received 9.35 a.ni.) SYDNEY, March 25. The sea roll for the Southern Cloud is thus far fruitless, hut continues today, all available planes being cooped into an intensified combing of the mountainous area oT north western Victoria and Southern New South Wales. The most definite clue is .that provided by Ranger Spargo and Constable McMillan who report white objects were seen on the slopes of Mount Hewitt. McMillan with an experienced hushman, expects to reach the spot this afternoon. ’Pile country is extremely broken.