MISSING SEARCHERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 90, 16 April 1929, Page 7

MISSING SEARCHERS

ANDERSON AND HITCHCOCK POSITION MAY BE SERIOUS tAustrallan Prest Assn.J Received April 15, 10 p m. SYDNEY, April 15. There is still no news of Lieut. Keith Anderson and his mechanic, Air Hitchcock, in the Kookooburra. It is pointed out that they had trouble with their compass in the early portion of the journey, and it is conjectured that after leaving Alice Springs for the Kimberley district last Wednesday, they might have got off the course and landed at some isolated cat tie station. On tho contrary, tho ’plane might have boon forced down in the desert, in which case the position of the crew would be one calling for urgent rescue efforts, as they would be without food or -water, and life would not be long supportable in such a predicament. Pilot Holden’s Canberra was released last night to search for Lieut. Anderson. It will fly to Alice Springs to-day, Holden then deciding his own course. Two ’planes in search of Lieut. Anderson arrived at Oodnadatta and will proceed to Alice Springs. Th 3 search for the Kookaburra may be more difficult than for the Southern Cross as the 'plane is supposed to be in a country of vast unexplored distances wicn communication s scanty in the .extrcme.