HAWKER'S FLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 202, 21 May 1919, Page 7

HAWKER'S FLIGHT

CONFLICTING REPORTS Ot HIS PROGRESS NO DEFINITE NEWS SINCE HE LEFT ANXIOUS FEARS FOR HIS FATE 3y Teleerapß-Press Association-Copyright Many cablegrams of a conflicting nature were received yesterday with regard to Hawker's flight across the Atlantic. Up to 5 o'clock the main points of the roports were: — That Hawker's machine had been found, but that the airman himself was missing. Thnt Hawker, at 8 p.m. on. May 19, was 5 hours overdue, and that (officially) his petrol supply was estimated ..to last him up till 7.30 p.m. on that day. That Mr. Lloyd George had received a message stating that Hawker flew over Waterford, Ireland, at 1.30 p.m., and was en route to England. That tho Sopwith Aeroplane Company had received a. /wireless messago from Hawker stating/ that ho was then 11,0 miles from Ireland, but that his petrol was nearly exhausted, and that he would be forced to land in Ireland. Both Mr. Sopwith and Mrs. Hawker felt confident about the airman's safety. Subsequent messages, as they arrived during the evening, gradually put a grave complexion on the airman's fate, as will be noted from the following dispatches:— THE LATEST DISPATCHES (Rec. May 20, 1.30 p.m.) New York, May 19. . The London correspondent of tho NewYork "Times" says it is officially announced by the Admiralty that Hawker was picked up forty miles west of Loop Head. Ireland, opposite the mouth of the Shannon—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. (Reo. May 20, 5.5 p.m.) New York, May 19. The New York "Times's" London correspondent states that a later wireless to the Admiralty says that Hawker descended to the sea near tho Shannon. His machine yet been picked up.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MACHINE REPORTED 40 MILES OFF COAST (Eec. May 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 19. Admiral Tupper, commanding at Queenstown, having received a wireless message that 'Hawker was down, dispatched a .wireless to a warship at sea. to proceed immediately to search the area around tho position marked 52-80 north by west for a radius of 38 miles. Limerick received a wireless message at 7.30 p.m. stating that Hawker hail beon compelled to descend to tho sea' 100 miles off Dingle Bay. He was evidently heading for tho Shannon estuary. Official confirmation of this was lacking at nine o'clock.

The Admiralty announces that a Sopwith inachino came down 10 miles west of' Loop Head, near the mouth of tho Shannon. All ships were advised by wire', less. There, is no information whether the pilots were rescued—Aus'.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

REPORT NOT CONFIRMED. (Ree. May 20, 7.35 p.m.) London, May 20. , The Admiralty has ordered many vessels to proceed to seal to assist in the search for Hawker. No success was reported at 11 o'clock last night. Tho search was continued all night. Admiral Tupper, at Queensrbwn, in a message early this morning, states that tho earlier report concerning the descent of a Sopwith plane 40 miles, off the coast is now considered unreliable.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. POINTED QUESnONSJN PARLIAMENT (Ree. May 20, 7.35 p.m.) London, May 20. In tho Houso of Commons, on the motion for the adjournment of the House, Captain W. Elliott asked whether tho Government had any information regarding Hawker. Colonel Wilson,' Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller, replied: "None whatever!" Captain Elliott condemned the Government's inaction. The House and the country, he said, would feel that the- Government had been lamentably remiss, desperately Careless alike of the country's honour ami of the lifo of a very gallant gentleman. ' Mr. J. W: Pratt, one of the. Lords of tho Treasury, replied that ho did not see how the' Government could bo held responsible. He could only promise to convey to the Government what-had been said.

Captaiu Wedgwood Bonn aslicd what steps the Government had taken to assist Hawker during his flight by the provision of pilot or rescue ships. No reply was forthcoming.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.•net -kesulTqf inquiries NO NEWS OF HAWKER (Kec. May 21, 0.30 a.m.) London, May'2o. The net result of the inquiries in official ■ quarters show that there has been no uews of Hawker Biuce he left Newfoundland. Considerable regret is expressed that he had been left to do the journey unaided, and contrasts are made with the American accounts of how the navul dispositions worked like clockwork day and night until the Azores were stilted,-'how tlio airmen were able tu seu the destroyers' star sheik forty miles distant. Occasionally fog came up, and was the only source of trouble, but this was serious while it lasted, and emphasises the difficulties of Hawker's track along a far worse route.

Few events in recent years have so stirred the imagination of Britain as Hawker's and Grievo's great adventure. If existing feai\ are unhappily realised (hey will be regarded us a national loss. 'L he prospect regarding their rescue overshadows all other topics.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn,