FATE OF AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2595, 18 October 1915, Page 6

FATE OF AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN

MURDERED BY WANDERING BEDOUINS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Melbourne, October 16.'• Official details are published regarding the deaths of Lieuts. G. . Merz and; Burn. TJioy show that the officers were taking ,part, in an expedition to establish a depot' at Asasullabig. They failed to return, and their aeroplane was discovered broken, but empty. They had Made a good landing. Political officers Qater discovered: that the murder had 'been committed by travelling Bedouins, three of whom wero wounded and one killed by the aviators. One of those concerned in tho murder is awaiting trial, and large rewards have been issued for the apprehension of the others. The aviators' bodies have not been found. [On August 11 the Viceroy of India tabled to tho Australian Government stating that on July 13 Lieut. Mere, of the Australian Flying Corps, was flying towards Basra, at tho mouth of the Euphrates, when his engine failed. Arabs found his damaged aeroplane, but Merz was missing. Ten days later messages from India stated that Lieut. Merz was killed by Marsh Arabs near the spot where Ins aeroplane was discovered. A punitive party was dispatched. There was no news of Lieut. Burn, a New Zealander, who was also missing,] ENGLISHWOMAN EXECUTED CHARGE OF HARBOURING FUGITIVE SOLDIERS. By Telegraph—Presa Association-Copyright (Rec. October 17, 3.20 p.m.) London, October 16, Tho United States Ambassador has informed the British Foreign Office that Miss Edith Cavell,' lately head of the training school for nurses at Brussels, was arrested in August, and executedon October 13. It is understood that the charge was that of harbouring fugitive British and French soldiers and Belgians of military age, and assisting them to escape from Belgium and join the colours.