THE MISSING AIRMEN

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4633, 8 December 1934, Page 5

THE MISSING AIRMEN

HOPE ALMOST ABANDONED. ONLY ONE FAINT HOPE. (Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received 11.40 a.m.) Honolulu, December 7. The roaring wind on Friday blew out all but the faintest hope for the survival of the missing flyers in the Faith in Australia. The rain, rough weather, and low visibility conspired with the wind to leave the possibility of a Japanese fishing boat having picked up the flyers virtually the only hope that they are alive. Nevertheless, the United States Naval Coastguard officials gave no indication that they were discontinuing the search. The combined forces in the last three days have flown a distance estimated to be equivalent to more than five times around the earth. Naval ’Planes May Cease Search. Fifteen surface vessels have continued the search for Mr. Ulm and his party. The Naval aircraft have grounded awaiting the decision of the United States Naval officials as to whether they, will be allowed aloft. Although the officials have made no statement, it is believed they are not disposed to risk the lives of the flyers far to seaward in the rough weather, when there is little chance of finding the missing men. I Officials Confer. The British Consul, Mr. William Turner, held a conference with the Governor, Mr. J. P. Poindexter, and the Navy authorities this morning in reference to an Australian guarantee of £1250 for the finding of the Ulm party. Fishing Boats Continue Search. The Fishing Fleet Association notified that it has 100 sampans operating in the Islands. The authorities expect a new plan for the extension of the search later this morning by the fishing boats, and the major part of the Army ’planes will resume the inshore patrol. Too Stormy for ’Planes. Storms to the northward will keen the ’planes on the ground this morning, but the surface patrol will continue the search, while the Admirals will hold a conference at Pearl Harbour. Two Navy ’planes were blown off their course late on Thursday and were guided home by a radio compass through the gales. The Navy ’planes flew 130,000 miles with no accidents. Heavy Expense Incurred. The search involves 40,000,000 dollars’ worth of equipment and a huge expense. The officials are not ready to abandon the search, tut their attitude shows that they have slight hope of rescuing the airmen, as all the data places the spot of the airmen’s crash as north-east, where a search has been made twice by air and once with surface craft. The weather is stormy there now.