AIR TRAGEDY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1940, Page 5

AIR TRAGEDY

MEETING OF AUSTRALIAN HOUSE

RESOLUTION OF REGRET & SYMPATHY. INFORMATION REGARDING DISASTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) CANBERRA, August 14. The House of Representatives met this afternoon in an atmosphere of gloom to pay tributes to the memory of the victims of yesterday's air crash. Following eulogies by the Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Curtin, a motion expressing regret at the deaths and sympathy with the relatives was carried.

Eyewitnesses suggest that the plane made a forced landing without serious damage, and that the explosion that followed was responsible for the deaths.

This view is confirmed by experts, who found the remains of the plane in a compact mass on the only clear and level space on a wooded spur instead of in scattered fragments as usually happens when a plane crashes out of control. The machine came to rest against a log 2ft Gin thick. Some of those who were first on the scene are of the opinion that if the machine’s landing wheels had not met this obstruction Hie pilot might have made a safe landing.

SYMPATHY IN U.S.A.

MR CASEY DEPLORES DISASTER

WASHINGTON. August. 13.

The United States Minister in Australia. Mr C. S. Gauss, is to convey to the Australian Government the official sympathy of the United States Government regarding the air crash.

The telephone of the Australian Minister in Washington, Mr R. G. Casey, was engaged all day with messages

from Embassies, Legations, and American officials.

Mr Casey said: “This is a great disaster for Australia and for me personally. These men were all nly lifelong friends. Their leadership, knowledge, and experience will be very hard to replace. They will be mourned as men and as servants of Australia.”

KING’S CONDOLENCES CANBERRA, August 14. The Prime Minister, Mi- Menzies, announced today the receipt of messages of condolences from the King and the Duke and Duchess of Kent for the relatives of the victims of the air disaster. His Majesty stated that he was deeply shocked at the untimely end of men who were so distinguished in the service of the nation in its hour of crisis. CABINET CHANGES TEMPORARY MINISTERS APPOINTED. CANBERRA. August 14. To ensure that the routine administrative work of the service Departments shall continue uninterruptedly in spite of yesterday’s tragic air crash, two assistant Federal Ministers, namely Senator Philip Mcßride, and Mr Arthur Fadden. M.T.R., were sworn in today as Acting-Ministers for the Army and Air respectively. These appointments are only temporary. and there is talk of a further reshuffle of Cabinet before the coming election.