THE MISSING AIRMEN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3742, 17 January 1928, Page 3

THE MISSING AIRMEN.

NO TRACE OF MEN OH 'PLANE. Wellington, This Day. The mystery of the fate of the missing airmen who started their flight'from Sydney across the Tasman Sea a week ago to-day, is still unsolved. No tidings of the men has been received, and not a trace of them or their ’plane has been found. The cruisers Dunedin and Diomede and the tug Toia have returned to their respective ports after an intensive sweep of thousands of square miles of the Tasman Sea, from the coast of New Zealand for more than 200 miles to the westward. The two aeroplanes sent up from Christchurch last week made a number of flights, covering a wide stretch of sea, coast-line, and mountains, and returned to the Wigram Aerodrome yesterday afternoon, one making a final cast over the area above May Morn before setting out for the south. The West Coast beaches have been thoroughly searched from Cape Farewell, southward to the Waiho River, and a search of the coastline below that river is now being made. . A unfounded rumour was circulated this morning to the effect that Lieutenant Monerieff, one of the missing airmen, had walked into Levin from the ranges.

Numbers of people are still of opinion that Lieutenant Monerieff and Captain Hood reached New Zealand, while others maintain that the ’plane landed in the Tasman Sea shortly after the last signal was received. REPORT FROM CAPTAIN KNIGHT.

Captain J. L. Knight, who is returning from Sydney by the Maraima,! which is due this morning, sent the following radio message yesterday“ Ship’s log shows not westerly but easterly wind, which would delay ’plane. Kaiwarra confirms report. Satisfied they arrived in New Zealand. —Knight.” Dr. E. Kidson, Dominion Meteorologist, stated, when the above message was referred to him, that probably some easterly conditions avould have prevailed over the Tasman on the day of the flight, but in bis opinion these Avould not have been 'such as to delay the ’plane for more than an hour or two at the most.

AUSTRALIA’S SYMPATHY. Auckland, January 16.

The first act of New South Wales Premier, Mr T. R. Bavin, on arrival at Auckland to-day Avasto express the heartfelt sympathy of the people of his State Avith the relatives of Captain Hood and Lieutenant Monerieff.

“1 regret very deeply indeed, and I feel that I can speak for the Avhole of the people of New South Wales that the Tasman flight had such an ending,” he said. “I admired the pluck of these brave men tremendously, and only wish that the venture could have had a differ - 'ent termination.”

The Premier said that the result came as a distinct shock to the people of New South Wales, in vieAv of the fact than on seemingly authentic information, they had been informed' of the successful arrival of the airmen in New Zealand. Captain Knight had even made an annoucement at a public dinner. GRATITUDE OF RELATIVES. Mrs. Thwaites, of Bruce Avenue, Brooklyn, a sister of Lieutenant Moncrieff, yesterday requested the Dominion to state that the relatives of Lieutenant Moncrieff and Captain Hood felt grateful for what had been done by the Government and private Individuals to endeavour to trace the missing airmen,. They felt especially grateful to the members of the Tararua Tramping Club for organising search parties to scour the ranges. All that was humanly possible to do had been done, and the relatives of the missing men were deeply grateful. ANOTHER, ATTEMPT TO BE MADE. ' BY CAP,TAIN MOODY. Sydney, January 16. Captain P. Moody,-late of the Queensland. Air Service, has announced his intention to attempt the llight from Australia to New Zealand, and also a return llight. It is stated that the machine to be used is a Ryan monoplane, similar to Moncrieff .and Hood’s, hut it will be fitted with floats. Mrs Moody will probably accompany her husband on the flight. It is understood that it is the intention of Captain Moody to land on the New Plymouth racecourse. Brisbane, January 16. Captain Moody was formerly senior pilot of the Queensland air strvice. He will interview the authorities with a view to making satisfactory arrangements, and thinks he will use a sea-plane, thereby complying with the Australian Air Force regulations regarding flying land machines over water.