THE ALLIANCE DISASTER

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15978, 21 November 1919, Page 9

THE ALLIANCE DISASTER

FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS. f Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Received November 21, 1.5 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 18. A large party attended the funeral of Lieuts. Douglas and Ross at Brookwood. The mourners included Miss Woolley and many personal freinds of the airmen. Australian officers acted as pall-bearers. Interviewed regarding the accident, Miss Woolley said she was thor* onghlv dissatisfied with the conduct of the inquest. She Was present at Acton on the 13th October, when the machine made a bad landing and Douglas escaped with a slight injury to his hand. After that she saw Douglas daily until the evening before his departure. He often seemed uneasy, whereas prior to the 13th October he was full of confidence.* He regarded the machine and engine as perfect, and consider- • ed it the best he had ever flown in. He watched the subsequent repairs anxiously. These lasted until the eve of his departure. Douglas felt that he must get away as he feared the people would be jeering at his long delay*. Miss Woolley fears that owing to this he may have departed against his better judgment, although he never voiced doubts in reference to the machine- Miss Woolley states she is determined to press the request to the Air Ministry for an Inquiry as to whether the tests were adequate. She feels sure Douglas would have flown higher if he could. He-always favoured high flying.