MISSING ’PLANE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 237, 3 September 1927, Page 9

MISSING ’PLANE

HOURS OVERDUE. HOPE VIRTUALLY ABANDONED. FLIGHT ACROSS ATLANTIC. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received September 3, 10.20 a.m. OTTAWA, Sept. 2. Hope is virtually abandoned for the safety of the Fokker ’plane St. Raphael, which is now many hours overdue. A constant vigil is being continued, but ships and radio stations report that no trace of tho ’plane has been seen. Rumours from different sources have proved unfounded.

The weather is very cold and a fog, cloudy sky. and north-east w r inds prevailed during the night. The St. Raphael’s petrol supply would have given out at midnight on September 1. It is believed as highly improbable that a landing could have been made without being witnessed, as the ’plane would first be compelled to pass somewhere through a chain of 35 radio stations.

Experts declare that destruction is certain if a landing on ice is attempted. The only hope remaining is that tho fliers (Princess Loewnstein, Colonel Minchin and Captain Leslie Hamilton) have been picked up by a fishing vessel that Iras not a wireless outfit. —A. and N.Z. cable. LACK OF FUEL RUMOUR. OTTAWA, Sept. 1. Officials of the Government Air Force have been unable to verify a rumour that the St. Raphael was forced down 700 miles east of here by lack of fuel. —Australian Press Association and Sun cable. SIGNAL STATION CLOSED. 'VANCOUVER, Sept. 1. A message from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, states that at midnight on Thursday the signal station closed in the belief that it was certain that the St. Raphael was down. Further watch is believed to be hopeless. —Australian Press Association and Sun cable, FOG ENCOUNTERED. GIANT MACHINE RETURNS. PARIS, Sept. 2. Given and Corbu started at 6.32 o’clock this morning from Le Bourget on their flight to New York in the biplane Bluebird, but struck a fog and returned at eight o’clock to Le Bourget, where they landed. _ The Bluebird is an immense Farman Goliath, 15 feet high, with two 450 horse-power engines, mounted horizontally, giving the appearance of a flying boat. The failure of the Bluebird was due to her inability to achieve the necessary height. Seldom did the machine got beyond 800 feet. The wives of the aviators wept with joy to see their husbands back safe.—* A.- and N.Z. cable. FORCED TO LAND. CANADA TO ENGLAND FLIGHT. VANCOUVER, Sept. 1. A message from Caribou, Maine, states that the monoplane Sir John Carling, en route from London (Ontario) to London (England), landed there this evening, fog having forced it from its course and interrupted the flight. A message from Windsor, Ontario, states that the Windsor bo Windsor (England) ’plane was forced down at St. John, Quebec, with a wing on fire, causing slight damage. The ’plane will resume in the morning.—A. and N.Z. cable. FLIGHT AROUND WORLD. DEPARTURE FOB, BAGDAD. CONSTANTINOPLE, Sept. 2. The Pride of Detroit has left for Bagdad. —A. and N.Z. cable.