KINGSFORD SMITH STILL MISSING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LV, Issue 4572, 14 November 1935, Page 3

KINGSFORD SMITH STILL MISSING.

HOPES FADING. Singapore, November 13. Another day has passed without news of Sir Charles Kiugsford Smith and Mr J. 'T. Pethybridgc, and only the faintest hopes are now entertained for their safety.

<C. J. Melrose, who was overdue at Singapore after searching for # Sir Charles, has been found safe. The news that Melrose had been found originated from the British Minister at Bangkok, who tele* graphed to Singapore that Melrose had been, forced down on the beach at Pakato, Siam, with engine trouble at the height of the violent storm which forced the Quantas aeroplane fo turn back to Alor Star yesterday. The machine was not wrecked and Melrose is unhurt.

Every island and every section of Sir Charles’s route have been thoroughly searched by the R.A.F. It is believed that they can do no more. It is felt that Sir Charles is either lost in the Bay of Bengal or in the densest jungle. In either case it would be impossible to locate the wreckage. Searchers are proceeding toward Singapore and making a final search.

The Associated Press " agency understands that Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, before his departure for Australia, had almost completed plans to partner Mr C. W. A. Scott In the air race round the world in 1936. i Sydney, November 13. The Common-wealth Government has announced that it is prepared to provide £IOOO and the New South Wales Government £SOO toward the cost of sending an aeroplane from Australia to join in the search for Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr. Pethybridge. The Government are now awaiting a reply from Singapore as to whether this course is approved. It, is understood that Captain P. G. Taylor is prepared to leave Mascot Aerodrome as soon as possible with a twin-engined Gannett monoplane, which is regarded as most suitable for the purpose. Leading citizens are prepared to contribute to the cost. '

Mr. R. A. Pafikhill, Minister of Defence, announced that the Air Commodore in charge of flyingboats at Singapore had cabled saying that the air search for Sir Charles would eease ; to-morrow night, when all possible areas other than the inland jungle would have been thoroughly searched by eight aircraft. Mr. Parkhill said that that the proposal to send a plane from Australia would cost about £2OOO, of which £ISOO would be contributed by the Governments of the Commonwealth and New South Wales, and the remainder privately. He understood that. Captain P. G. Taylor and 'Mr John Stannagc were preparing to leave to take up the search. KINGSFORD SMITHES REMARKABLE RECORD. There is something unique in the appearance of the name of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith as written in the record of famous airmen.Heroism and skill are qualites which emblazoned all the names appearing on that honoured roll, yet in the case of Sir Charles an additional, elusive ingredient has embellished the writing. Many have said it is an uncanny power of escaping from tight comers. Some have seen it as the light from a lucky star. Others have been content to call it personality. Whatever the answer be, the story of Sir Charles shows him asp “born airman,” one of those personalities produced by the present centui’y to demonstrate the conquest of man and machine over the air. A belief that such an affinity in conquest exists has been implied by his eagerness to share with the old Inis,” the famous Southern Cross, the credit for so many of. his great flights. Slight of stature and'modest in demeanour before strangers, he has proved himself over and over again a giant in determination and courage when the only hope of avoiding death has lain in his own coolness of head and sure grasp of hand. Many a stern battle has he fought with the elements in some- lonely place in the sky, and won his way through to the plaudits and congratulations of an anxiously waiting public. And in these moments of triumph he has not forgotten an affectionate word for his colleagues in adventure. There are stories of his boyhood doings that foreshadowed the man and the airman, such as leaping from a height with an open umbrella for a parachute and, with keen delight, making model aeroplanes that flew, this at a time when models as a rule did not attain to such perfection. Then, as a youth, his urge for mechanics turned him to motorcycling, and, while still in his teens, he became a despatch rider in the Great War, where his adventurous spirit found much scope for expression. But even this exciting life fell short of something that he desired and he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, and soon became known as a daiing fighter in the air. For bravery at Ypres he was decorated with the Military Cross.

(With the coming of peace most men found their way back to safe pursuits, but not so Sir Charles, as his post-war record of notable achievements so forcibly shows. Resting on honours won has not been for him.