MISSING AIRMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20228, 12 April 1929, Page 11

MISSING AIRMEN.

STILL NO TIDINGS. albatross to search. TAKING 350 MEN. SIX MORE AEROPLANES. PARTIES SCOUR LAND. By Telecrnph—Fresn Association—Copyright. (Received April 11. 10.35 p.m.) SYDNEY. April 11. The search for Squadron-Leador Kinpsjford Smith, Flight-Lieutenant O. T. Ulm. and Messrs. 11. A. Litchfield and 'P. H. McWillium, who liavo been missing since Sunday, March 31, in the monoplane Southern Cross, was again fruitless \ estcnlay.

]t transpires that the rumour to *the jpffect that the machine had been located en the coast of Western Australia, between tho Prvsdalp River mission station «nd the Port George IV. mission station ,was unfounded. Even Air-Pilot Woods who took the message to Derby doubted its reliability. Four largo land parties are now searching tho rugged country between Drysitlale and Port George. They will carry cn tho search until (ho motor-ship J-ioolinda arrives off the coast.

At Derby (here aro only eight cases tof petrol.

Numerous fires were seen yesterday by Captain Les Holclen from tho airliner Canberra. They aro said to have been due to a war between the coastal and inland natives.

The Goulburn Moth aeroplane has arrived at Long Reach. Tho Australian seaplane-carrier Albatross has been ordered to sail immediately for tho north-west coast to aid in tho search. She will carry six aeroplanes arid 350 men In scour the country for the piissing airmen.

Going at full speed tlio Albatross is Expected to reach the scene of action in a week. The Royal Air Force flying-boats now jat Singaporo may also assist. A careful checking of the last, radio messages received from tho Southern Gross by the newspaper Sydney Sun suggest to the aviation authorities at Mel- . bourne the theory that Smith, after flying over the Port George I\. mission station and correcting his position, followed the course of the Prince Regent River and came down somewhere in that > - icinity. / - MOKE VAIN EFFORTS. SEEKERS IN THE AIR, NO NEWS AT THE MISSIONS. (Received April 12. 12.23 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 11. A search of the Avon Valley and Rowe River areas by aviators to-day disclosed no signs of the missing Southern Cross or her crew. Captain Ho.lden spent the day in overhauling the air-liner Canberra at Wvr.dharn and is ready to take up the search again in the morning. The Wyndham correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald reports to-night that inquiries at. the mission stations today threw no further light on the fate cf the four missing airmen. OPTIMISTIC VIEW. TOO SOON TO DESPAIR. FLIERS MIGHT BE WALKING. j>? TELEOR AT"H. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] INVERCARGILL, April 11. A wireless message picked up in Inverts rgill this evening from Sydney stated that the intelligence officer for the Northern district of Western Australia J-iad expressed the opinion that no undue alarm should be felt for the safety of the Jnissing airmen until at least three weeks had passed. He said that if they were ■walking toward civilisation their rate of progress would be so slow that it might take weeks to got clear of the rough (Count rv. There would he little prospect, of sighting the lost monoplane from the air unless the missing men had means of signaling. A ground search was more likely %'j yield results. Another report stated that already Jnany parties of friendly blacks arc billing to commence a search. With that end in view liases arc being established. "Until the arrival of mora petrol the >vhole position is being reviewed. When flio resident magistrate from Broome arrives at Derby a sysLematised search >)ll be commenced on land and in the air, NATIVES' ATTITUDE. STATEMENT BY PRIEST. INTERFERENCE NOT LIKELY. [p.v n;t.i:o;nArH. —press association.] WELLINGTON, April 11. Among the messages broadcast from about the search for the airmen, the following items from Broomo weio intercepted in Wellington : —• Father Thomas, who left Sydney before "the Southern Cross, said that in the event t'f the Southern Cross crew making a forced landing there was no fear of the jnativps interfering with them. "The blacks walk many miles to the he, said, " and we never have Any trouble with them as they arc peaceful."

It i? not expected that the 250 natives ®nd the few white searchers sent, out <mn travel more than three lo four miles a *l.\y. It. would bo almost impossible (o horses in that country.

1 lie Sydney rescue fund now totals £5425 17s 2d. The Citizens' Committee's "objective is £50,000, as it took the responsibility of commissioning the air liner S-^nbeixaL