POLAR FLIERS MISSING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 179, 16 August 1937, Page 5

POLAR FLIERS MISSING

— Press Assn.-

Tlane Believed to be Forced Down RESCUERS LEAVE

• (Bv Telegrapk-

-Copyrlght.)

(Received 16, I1.3U a.m.j MOSCOW, Aug. 15. Concern is felt owing to no news of the Arctie flyers for 15 hours. The 'plane, which has a erew of seven, is piloted by M. Sigismuntl Levenesky, the Soviet "ace," and left Moscow on a non-stop fight aeross the North Pole to Fairbanks, Alaska. The intention was to continuo on to Edmonton, Chicago and New York. It is known that oue of the engines failed soon after passing over the North Pole. A Fairbanks message states that a disjointed radio message reading: "No bearings. Having trouble with wavebaud" was picked up 2S hours after tho report that the 'plane had crossed the North Pole was the only sign of life from the Soviet fliers. It is believed that they have been forced down in the 1200 miles of frigid ocean between the Pole and Point Barrow, embracing the mysterious "blind spots" in which two previous trans-Polar Soviet 'planes have lost touch with listeners for hours on end owing to the interference of wireless transmission. There is no serious fear but a number' of 'planes, ineluding three bearing Russian agents, are searching from Fairbanks. The brotherhood of the air is exemplilied by the departure of Mr. Mattern for Fairbanks from Los Angeles at 9.30 p.m. on Saturday in an effort to repay au act of mercy by - Levanevsky who led rescuers to Mattern when the latter cracked up in Siberia in 1933. Thc authorities are making elaborate arrangements for the discovery and reseuc of thc missiug 'plane. They are dispatehing ice-breakers and aeroplanes to the Polar regions.