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AVIATORS IN PERIL.

ADVENTURES NEAR TURKISH POSTS. A REMARKABLE RESCUE. Cairo, January 8. A cruiser watching a certain part of the Turkish coast line sent out a seaplane with a French pilot and Captain Stirling, of the Flying Corps, as observer (writes Captain C. E. W. Bean, official reporter with the First Australian Force). The ''plane" flew over a wide, rocky desert into a valley shut in by high, barren mountains. It was found that Turkish posts existed in the district. The seaplane rose amongst the hils, but when twenty miles inland, and at a height of 5000 feet, the engine stopped. The situation was precarious, as a seaplane cannot land safely except in water. A patch of sand was visible far below amongst some rocks, and the Frenchman steered for it. He made a magnificent volplane towards the earth, and turned off the magneto in order to prevent fire. He then banked up the machine against the wind, and finally, striking still air, the seaplane fell swiftly towards the sand.

The moment the floats touched the sand the tail of the machine was thrown lip. The Frenchman was hurled clear, but Captain Stirling was pinned down, I 'with his legs bent over his spine. Petrol i soaked his clothes cars, and hair, but j fortunately did not catch alight. He | called out to the Frenchman, but the ' latter did not reply. Presently Stirling 1 called again, and the cry brought the stunned Frenchman to his senses. He' extricated .Stirling, and the two started ! to return, the Frenchman leaning on, Stirling. ! After they had covered four miles in four hours, the Frenchman complained of internal pains and was forced to give I up. Stirling gave him half a chocolate and all the water he had, and then went 011 alone. He walked sixteen miles in four hours. The country was bristling with rocks, and Turks were often in view. A horseman with a dog, who w.is scouting out from his party, approached to within 100 yards. Stirling lay in the shadow of a bush. The horseman stopped and shouted to a distant part. Stirling thought he had been discovered, and crept back along a rocky ledge to a marsh.

When night came on he crept through the Turkish camp fires to water, being desperately thirsty, but expecting momentarily to be seen. Finally he reached the catst. only to find that the cruiser had gone. The captain, knowing that an accident had happened, as the aviators were hours overdue, had put out to sea. Stirling slept in a hiding place, and when he awoke it was still dark. He heard the cruiser returning and called out. Those on the cruiser heard him, and flashed a searchlight. Stirling appeared, ant? was taken off. A' strong party, with,guns, searched for the Frenchman till morning, but failed to find him, and gave up hope. The captain felt an intense cenviction that the airman would yet be found, and he urged a return to search a particular part of the beach. ITe turned the ship back, and when the point was reached he flashed a light. The beam showed up some huts 011 the rocks near the shore. From one of these staggered the figure of the Frenchman. The Story, which is unquestionably true, is one of the most wonderful in the history of aviation.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19150123.2.19

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 193, 23 January 1915, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
560

AVIATORS IN PERIL. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 193, 23 January 1915, Page 3

AVIATORS IN PERIL. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 193, 23 January 1915, Page 3

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