MASTINSYDE TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 74, 20 December 1919, Page 9

MASTINSYDE TRAGEDY

LOSS OP MACHINE AND CREW CONFIRMED A HEARTBREAKING JOURNEY SALVAGE OPERATIONS TO BE UNDERTAKEN (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright London, December 16. Tho British Naval Attache at Pome has telegraphed to the Admiralty confirming the lii.ss, of the Marlinsyde machine and its crew. Ho states that tho aeroplane fell into tho sea at S o'clock at night. .Fishermen state that it seems U> be snlvnble.

The Australian Press Association interviewed the manager of Martinsydes, who said that Howoll's last journey must have teen a cruel and heartbreaking one. Pc-sibly the log, which is now in the possession of the British Consul at Corfu, will throw light on the matter. HowelJ ■'reft Taranto at noon for Athens in the highest spirits. It was a four hundred mile journey, and the machine, with its cruising speed of a hundred miles per hour, should easily have made. Athens before dusk, but, according to the weather reports, the day , was misty. There seems littlo doubt that the pilot 10-st his way, and probably., . see-sawed backwards and forwards across the , course hour after hour, hoping to pick up a landmark. Darkness, meanwhile, was rapidly coming on, and the petrol tanks steadilr emptying;. .It is likely that the tonics would not have been tilled at. Taranto, in view of the short flight contemplated. Tho .strain on the airmen must have been tremendous, but. it was mo:;t likely that the cause of the machine falling into the sea within a hundred and fifty miles <>n the direct line from the starting point was tho exhaustion of the petrol, rather than fatigue of the pilot. Further light would l>? thrown on this phase when the machine, which would bo salved, was examined.

A message has 'been sent by wireless to t:hc medical officer oii the steamer Orsovii to break the news to Captain HowellV wife. The. In? will be handed over to her.—Aus.-N. 7i. Cable Assn.

MISHAP TO THE BLACKBURN POUT ENCiINE OUT OP ACTION. ." London, December YIG. Lioiiteiuinl: AVilkins'd ninch'aie (the Blackburn-Kiingarco) is intact, but. .the port engine is completely out. of action, aiiO tho continuation of the flight is indcfinitelv dolaved—Aih.-N.Z. Cabin Assn.

j'lt wiw reported :i feiv days ;.go, that the Blackburn uoroplaw made « had ItM'diiij,' at Siidla Jtay, Crete. A later in&wage described the .'eriouK condition of one of the engines, and said that the expedition would probably bs abandoned.] POULET AGAIN MEETS MISFORTUNE VULTUKE UREAKS I'ROPELLEE. Paris, December 17. Advices from Burma, daled the 10th, fitate that Poulet started from Bangkok, but was compelled to return because; a vulture dashed at the machine and broke the right propeller, He is. resuming; hi.s journey from Bangkok on the 11th. The" newspaper "lntransigeant" has opened a- subscription for Poulet, who was officially unaided in. the flight. The first list totals SSOO francs.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable As=n. IMPORTANT AERIAL DEVELOPMENTS combixe contemplates sevehai, services. (liec. December 19, T.IIJ p.m.) London, December 17. The "Globe" . dales that important atrial developments arc pending.. Viclcers's. Short's, and Beardinorcfs have practically completed a euin'binc, with which a-vcriil shipping- magnates an> nssooialpd. ]l: is intended to acquire -M.-t ,'iiul R3!) and start, passenger and goods services in Inland Britain, and to Holland and Scandinavia. Tho next project will probably be a deimiintrafion flight to Sgypt. "A weekly service to America is (•oi'ilwnpliited, but it :s likely "to be deferred for a considerable lime. Meanwhile, the combine will examine the possibililii;~ of Dominion services.—Uniteil Service.

THE INDIAN ROUTE BIG VOTE FOIt AUKO.I).ROiIES. , (Rec. Deceinber 10, 10.33 p.m.) . London, Dcember I.G. Mr. W. S. Cliurchill.(Air MiniMer), in justifying tiie vote of .£50,000 for ncrqlit Cairo, .Bagdad, and Karachi,said that these were only the. ijDjpiiiiiiß of iierodi'onics required on tho Indian rente. Cairo to Karachi was considered an important section of ttu> route, from London to Australia, and could bo linisliod before the rest rf the, route was ready. Moreover, Cairo, Karachi, and Bagdad would contain, rmtisoiis. The Air Force hoped lo hold these j>1.1003 largely by tho injirumeiiUlity of tho air. in.=te«d of by a large- number of troops. They would probably have :i line of iiir sfjnadron? distributed 'along this section. Apart from defence, tho aerodrome? would prove very convenient for mails and.passenger.fl.rinp. and Jinve the effect of buttressing- tho Empire tofietho. , The vole was rarrmd by '221 votes to ,iO.-Au.=.-N.Z. Ci'.Ho Assr..