THE MARTINSYDE DISASTER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1705, 19 December 1919, Page 5

THE MARTINSYDE DISASTER.

AVIATORS' TERRIBLE PLIGHT. SEE-SAWING THROUGH MIST. By Hectrio Telegraph.—Copyright. lustraliuii-New Zealand Cable .Association. Received December 19, 9.20 a.m. * LONDON, Dec. 16. There seems but little doubt now that ■Japtain Howell lost his way. The pilot probably see-sawed backwards and forwards across his course hour after hour hoping • o pick up a landmark. Darkness was meanwhile rapidly coming on, and the petrol :anks were steadily emptying; It is likely the tanks would not be filled at Taranto in >iew of tho short flight contemplated. The strain on the airmen must have been tremendous, but it is likelier the cause of »<ie machine falling into tho sea within a Hundred and fifty miles in a direct line of no starting point was the exhaustion of petrol rather than fatigue of the pilot. "Further light will be thrown on this when tho machine, which will bo salved, is ex.mined. ' ACCIDENT AT NIGHT. ' CRUEL AND HEARTBREAKING JOURNEY. WHAT THE LOG MAY REVEAL. Vu6tralian : New Zealand Cable Association Received December 19, 10.5 a m mi „. ~ LONDON, Dec.'l 6 . Ihe British Naval attache at Roma has telegraphed to the Admiralty confirming rlie loss of tho Martinsydo airmen. Ho states that tho aeroplane fell into tho sea it 8 o'clock at night. Fishermen state-that it sooms salvable. '■ The manager of Martinsyde's states that Captain Howell's last journey must have '>oen cruel and heartbreaking. Possibly his og, now in tho possession of the British Consul at Corfu, will throw light on the occurrence. Captain Howell left Taranto ii the highest spirits at noon for Athens, a 100 rnilo journey. The machine, with a jruismg spaed of 100 miles an hour, should ■asily have made Athens before dusk, but iccording to the weather reports the' day was misty. A message has been wirelessed to the medical officer on tho Orsova to break the news to Captain Howell's wife. The log will bo handed over to her.