FLYING DISASTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22197, 26 February 1934, Page 9

FLYING DISASTERS

SEVERAL IN AMERICA ARMY MAIL AEROPLANES (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—-Copyright.) NEW YORK, February 23. (Received Feb. 25, at 8.30 p.m.) During the three days the army has been flying the air mail five pilots have been killed and several-seriously injured, while almost a dozen aeroplanes have been wrecked. Most of the accidents happened in the mountain section between New York and the middle western cities, where continued storms made flying difficult, although the private airlines, which were deprived of the mail contracts claim that they are maintaining a regular passenger service, and insist that the military service failed’ owing to the improper training of the pilots and lack of radio and other facilities. From Washington it .is indicated that legislation is being rushed through for a return of the air mail to private concerns, but under entirely new systems of contracts designed to lower the cost to the Government and prevent . fraud and collusion. CANCELLATION OF CONTRACTS. DEFENDED BY MINISTER, .WASHINGTON, February 24. (Received Feb. 25, at 9 p.m.) The air mail situation continued to occupy the centre of the stage to-day and the House of Representatives passed a measure confirming the Government’s emergency use of the Army Air Corps to carry mails, but the Republicans bitterly attacked the measure, calling it “legalised murder” and declaring “six lives have been lost to satisfy the insatiable appetite of politicians for front page publicity,” Mr J. A. Farley (Postmaster-general), testifying before the Senate Committee, continued his defence of the cancellation of the contracts. Flying conditions east were better today and the army moved the mails without interruption. Commercial lines, however, reported a possible grave disaster to an air liner carrying eight people, which is lost somewhere on the plateau of the Utah-Wyoming border. Perhaps it has been caught in a blizzard. It has not been heard of for 36 hours.