AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1928, Page 3

AVIATION.

Australian Press Assn.—United Service

WIRELESS STATEMENTS.

GISBORNE, July 11. A A. wireless from the ‘‘New York [y Times” received by O’Meara states an ' official communication from Rome intimates that the silence of the Italia’s stranded crew is not regarded as ominous. The reported death of Cessioni is denied and although it is admitted the men are greatly distressed and in need of encouragement, rumours of mutiny and. attempts at suicide are strenuously discredited. The San Francisco “Examiner” yesterday published London cablegram as follows:—While plans were going forward in Brussels to observe the funeral service for Lowenstcin, the Belgian financial genius, those who believed the millionaire’s strange disappearance whs n hoax, had their convictions, strengthened by a report from Dunkirk that the tempestuous Lowenstein disappeared from the ’plane by a parachute, and was rescued by a boat. A fisherman from the village of Barydunes, on the coast of France, said he saw a parachute drop from the sky at approximately' the time Lowenstein’s ’plane was supposed to lie overhead. A similar message was published by the New York “Times.” *

NEWS FRO AI VEIL GO BAY

(Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, July 10

A British United Press message from Vcrgo Bay says Lundborg states all the Vigilieries party are fever-stricken. Tliere is a great scarcity of food, as a large part of the supplies dropped from the aeroplanes fell in the sen out of reach. Ceeiani’s’ death was pitiful. After Lundborg was rescued, Ceeiani’s five companions carried him to the ice floe in order that he might be the first rescued when Lundborg returned Unfortunately Lundborg crashed and Ceeinni was too heavy to bo carried hack to the camp, so' lie was left in the open all night. His wounds froze, and death followed. The search for Malgrem’s party and Captain Sora lias been definitely abandoned. The originnl disaster was due to the fabric of the Italia being lacerated at the rear. Thus the airship lost steerage and when the rudder would not act the motors were stopped because of a fear of fire. When the crash came all the Italians on the ice thought it best to die, so crept into their sleeping hags, hut their mood changed. On the third day a Polar bear nprpoaclied Malgrem, who had the solitary revolver the party possessed. Ho shot it at a distance of fifteen leet using five cartridges. The meat was cut with scissors and cooked by’ means of solidified alcohol. On many nights bears came up and sniffed the sleeping hags.

AN AIR RECORD

LONDON, July 10,

Flying in a Shortt-Mussel seaplane, equipped with a Cirrus engine of the smallest type constructed. Bady Heath in ninety minutes ascended 13,400 feet, a world’s record for light seaplanes. She says the visibility was wonderful and sho could see for twenty-five or thirty miles. »