MISSING AEROPLANES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19720, 20 August 1927, Page 11

MISSING AEROPLANES.

(HAWAII RACE SEQUEL. RUMOURED SAFETY OF ONE. STORY NOT CONFIRMED. # FATE STILL A MYSTERY. WIDE SEARCH PROCEEDING. By Telecraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received August 19, 7.43 p.m.) A. ami X.Z.-Sun. VANCOUVER, Aug. IS. Various rumours were in circulation this evening to the effect that the aeroplane Miss Doran, one of the two machines missing on the Oakland-Hawaii flight, had been found. The latest reports to hand from Honolulu, however, have failed to confirm these earlier rumours. The first message came from San Francisco. This stated that the Honolulu correspondent of the Examiner had reported that the Miss Doran was found on the Island of Maui. He said the pilot, J. A. Peddlar, the navigator. Lieutenant Knope, and the wireless operator, Miss Mildred Doran, were safe. Then came a telegram from Montreal to the effect that a despatch from Honolulu said the three occupants of the Miss Doran had been found near Homanau Bay and had been taken to Kaenae, 96 miles south-east of Honolulu. The latter is a desolate spot on the Island of Maui. The trails and roads there are impassable. Inquiries were made by the Radio Corporation of America, which reported at 11 p.m. that all its sources of information had failed to confirm the rumoured finding of the party. No Trace of Planes at Maui. The representative of the American [Associated Press at Wailuki, Hawaii, telegraphed late this evening that he had journeyed by aeroplane over the remote section of Maui to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the reports that the Miss Doran had been found. He had returned, having discovered no trace of the plane. The pilot of the Aloha, which was second in the race, Martin Jensen, searched the island waters to-day for the missing Miss Doran and Golden Eagle. He returned without discovering a trace of either of them. The winner of the race, Arthur Goebel, also searched in the direction of Kauai. Mr. William Molloska, the financial backer of the Miss Doran, has offered a reward 0f,£2000 for a clue to the ■whereabouts of the plane. Air Dole has offered a reward of £4OOO for definite information as to the fate of the occupants of the missing planes. He savs he feels most concerned because of his indirect responsibility as the donor of the prize-money. Many Naval Vessels Searching. Forty destroyers, merchant vessels and aircraft searched all day for the Golden Eagle and the Miss Doran. They have not reported the result. A message from San Francisco this afternoon said all the resources of the United States Navy had been thrown into an extensive search for Miss Mildred Doran and the four men who are missing. The Navy has assigned 42 ships to steam out into the water-lanes and seek the two planes. One ship carried 28 land planes. Another carried * seaplanes. All these were to take off from the vessels at frequent intervals in the endeavour to locate the lost machines and their occupants. Twenty-three submarines and three submarine tenders have formed a scouting line at right angles to the course of the flight. Another submarine is following the direct line of the flight.