THE "BLAZING TRAIL" TO EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 30, 30 October 1919, Page 5

THE "BLAZING TRAIL" TO EGYPT

AIR DISASTERS TO BE INQUIRED INTO

APPALLING CONDITIONS

By Tolceraph—Proes Association—OoDyrishfr London, October 25. Tho Air Ministry has appointed a Commission to inquire into the deaths of aii-men which have occurred on the England-to-Egypt air route. Colonel G. L. Henderson, of the Air Force, says that pilds employed on tho route "egged him on" tu disclose the position, tie says that after the armistice the Air Ministry decided to open ivorld-wi.de routes, making Egypt one of the most important air junctions. Three Handley-Page squadrons were ordered to proceed there, and 'barely thirty per cent, reached their destination. At least eleven pilots ivcro killed. ColoncC Henderson says that this was due to no fault of the men and to no inherent defect in the machines, but organisation was practically non-existent, and the conditions bsyond Marseilles were simply appalling.' Two hundred and fifty miles of sea llight ivos commercially' imprac tieable. No business concern would at. tempt to convey aiuicliincs to Egypt by air. Colonel Henderson saw .Hie,,.wreckage of a. Hand!ey-Pnge bctwedir Marseilles and Nice. Tho losses in machines alono nmoimted to JCIIO.OOO. In some cases pilots ivore to blame for not replacing perished rubber connections and other defective parts, There 'was also a lack of expert mechanical assistance on the route. It should bo ascertained whether any of tfhese machines were among those notoriously left exposed to tho weather fit the Hendon aerodrome..—A us.-N.Z. Cable Assn.