KOOKABURRA TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20706, 2 May 1929, Page 9

KOOKABURRA TRAGEDY

THE LAND PARTY RETURNING. NEWS ANXIOUSLY AWAITED. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, May 1. A message from Wave Hill states that there is no news yet from the land party which went to the Kookaburra, but as the party has been seen returning to Wave Hill it is assumed that Mr Hitchcock’s body has been found. Lieutenant Eaton is apparently unable to communicate with the aeroplanes concerning the land party’s discoveries, owing to the unsuitability of the country for aeroplanes to land. It is further assumed that it has been found impossible to fly Mr Anderson’s plane back to civilisation, as was Lieutenant Eaton’s intention. It is considered unlikely that, there will be any news of the land party’s discoveries until it reaches Wave Hill in a few day’s time, unless in the meantime a suitable landing place is located for Ryan’s plane to come down to intercept the ground party. CREW OF SOUTHERN CROSS. A STATEMENT ISSUED. SYDNEY, May 1. (Received May 1, at 9 p.m.) To-day a statement was issued by Squadrotf-Leader Kingsford.Smith and Flight-Lieutenant Ulm setting out that they have a full and complete answer to criticisms and inuendoes made about their recent flight and forced landing. “ We owe it to the public to give complete details and we welcome the proposed inquiry,” reads the statement. “We assure the public that we will do everything in our power to aid the committee of inquiry. No words can adequately express our sorrow at the loss of two gallant men, Keith Anderson and Bobby Hitchcock. The fact that they were engaged in rescue work on our behalf makes our sorrow even more poignant.”