THE MISSING AIRSHIP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 904, 28 December 1923, Page 5

THE MISSING AIRSHIP.

GREAT ANXIETY FELT.

WORST FEARS AROUSED.

LONDON, Dee. 27. The disappearance ofi the airship Dixmude, following the drahiatic cessation of wireless communication, is attracting the widest attention and the deepest anxiety. Interest in the airship’s potentialities has been greatly increased lately owing to the djscussion of the possibilities of airship services to the Dominions. The newspapers give prominence to lengthy despatches from their Paris correspondents, detailing the latest reports. The speculations of aviation correspondents show the keenest desire to learn any lessons obtainable from tho mishap. The worst fears are aroused by the discovery that some later optimistic reports Were groundless and the fact that the French Ministry of Marino has issued a full list of those aboard after refusing to do so for several days. These include (ive officers of tho French Naval General Staff, eight other naval officers, Dr. Polwisseur and 36 rank and file. The Dixmudo left its aerodrome near Toulon at nix in tho morning of December 18 with tho intension of making a 72 hours’ non-stop Voyage across tho Mediterranean to Sales in South Algeria and back. * She reached her destination arid was signalled on Thursday morning on her return voyage about £0 miles south of Biskra, travelling . the direction of Algiers. The commander, hearing news of bad weather, then bore to the eastwards, towards the border of Tunis. —A. and N.Z. cable.

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Received December 28, Noon. PARIS, Dec. 27. There is no further news of t the Dixmude. Squadrons of army aeroplanes have left to reconnoitre the desert.—Reuter.