LOST AIRMEN'S ORDEAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21233, 13 July 1932, Page 6

LOST AIRMEN'S ORDEAL.

TERRIBLE PRIVATIONS.

AT THE POINT OF DEATH.

BERTRAM'S HEROIC PART. [KROM OUR OWN CORR*:SI.>ONDENT.] SYDNEY, July 7. Australia has been thrilled by the graphic story of the terrible privations endured by the two German fliers, Hans Bertram and Adolf Klansinann, who wero missing since they flew from Bima by seaplane on May 14. They were found near Cape Bernier, on the north Australian coast, on June 27. Constable Marshall, whose party reached the airmen on June 29, staled that the condition of the men was almost unbelievable. They cried for joy for hours after they had been found. The search had been a very hazardous one, and anxiety was increased by the fear that they might have come into contact with blacks who would not be friendly. As it. turned out the natives were friendly. As. the full story of the experiences of Bertram and Klausmann unfolds, it becomes more and more evident that Bertram played an heroic part in what is purhaps the most remarkable episode in the history of aviation. That the aviators managed to survive for 40 days is almost unbelievable. Fortunate for them, that they landed in the middle of winter, asythe hot tropical summer would certainly have killed them in a very few days.

The airmen were remarkably lucky in striking rain in June —an almost unheardof occurrence in the district. And they were five times within a hair's breadth of being rescued before they finally lost hope.

They landed in Australia on May 15. On the 29tli, while they were drifting in the open sea, they were passed by the M.V. Koolinda, within half a mile. On

June 1 they wero still drifting at sea when Father Cuberos' lugger passed their ' seaplane, and received the first reports from natives. Heartrending Experiences, Most heartrending for the two men was the fact that while lying helpless on Capo Bernier they were passed closely by a launch on June 19, but were too .weal: to stand or even to shout. When they discovered later that the launch party had actually camped that night

about a mile from them on the coast their courage was entirely broken down. They sighted the motor vessel Koolinda on one other occasion at night time while they were under the care of the Drysdale blacks, and they 'were passed directly overhead by pilot Sutcliffe's aeroplane. To the fact that it was widely known among the blacks that aeroplanes were searching for them Constable Marshall attributes their immunity from attack. "The reports that the blacks in that district are harmless are all rot," he says. •"They would kill as soon as look at you, and think they had done a great deed." Drysdale Mission's Part.

Constable Marshall states that the Drys-

dale Mission organised their search in a

most thorough manner. They sent out numerous small parties all over the country, each / carrying a ration of provisions, and each carrying a letter from the Superior, Father Thomas. §'

"I would have found the men the next

day by myself," said Constable Marshall, "but I would have found them dead. Bertram and Klausmann were absolutely on the point of perishing when found by the Drysdale party." Constable Marshall relates how he and his party came upon an old woman about twelve miles from the aviators. She was the first native they had seen since leaving the Forrest River, for the natives, having rifled the plane, were hiding from the police party. When the old woman recovered from her fright, she directed them (o the aviators' camp. Bertram had the terrible experience of fighting for bis own existence in a barren arid waterless country, and fighting also to save his comrade. On several occasions Klausmann's nerves gave way, but ho always recovered until the last attack, lifter the rescue.

Courage and Resource.

What Bertram suffered in the interim

;will probably never be known completely. An example of his courage and resource was the construction of the boat. The float weighed about four hundred pounds, and had a round bottom. It capsized immediately it was launched. Bertram, however, about four hundred pounds of sand into the'bottom of the ' float and made a sail out of his dressinggown. When fifteen miles out at sea, with his legs swollen from starvation and sitting motionless for days, ho singlehanded, for two davs and nights, paddled the boat back to land. Throughout all the men's troubles , Bertram was decided on leaving a record of their fate, and made a careful log from day' to day. which ho kept in a thermos flask. When leaving the plane the aii-men took the compass and an ingenious apparatus which ensured them fire for an indefinite period. The aviators lived for several days

without a drop of water, and for 14 days i without a particle of food. To add to his troubles. Bertram when rescued had a violent toothache. "When I lav helpless nnd hopeless," he remarked. "I often thought of different places I had been to. But always foremost in my mind were the foods I had eaten."