The Advertiser, Adelaide, 2 April, 1912.
THE KOOMBANA
STILL NO NEWS.
Fremantle, April ,1.
There is still no news of the Koombana
which is now 11 days' overdue at Broome.
In compliance with requests made by the
public, the Government have held up the
Bullarra at Broome and have commissioned
her to prepare and provision for a search
cruise over the known track of the cyclone,
which plan of search has been laid off by
nautical experts at Broome, men who are
experienced in cyclones. The Bullarra has
been instructed to report at Cossack on
April 8. The Adelaide Steamship Company
have agreed to contribute one-third of the
total-cost incurred in despatching the
Bullarra for this work.
THE ENDEAVOR MISSION.
THE MINISTER EXPLAINS.
Melbourne, April 1.
Replying to-day to criticisms offered in
South Australia on the employment of
the Federal trawler to search for the
Koombana, Mr. Tudor, Minister of Customs,
said if the Federal Government had refused
to send the Endeavor they would have left
themselves open to more severe censure.
The Western Australian Government had
originally suggested that a warship might
be sent, but as the trawler was nearer the
scene of the supposed disaster he thought
it would be better to send the latter vessel.
Later on Saturday afternoon another telegram
was received from the Western Australian
Premier, setting out that the Bullara had
returned to Broome, but had found no trace
of the steamer; that several luggers had
also put in to Port Hedland after unsuccessful
searches; and stating that the Government
would be glad if the Endeavour could be
dispatched immediately to make an exhaustive
search. It was also mentioned that the Government
had sent out the steamer Una from Geraldton
provisioned for six weeks. He accordingly
gave instructions that the trawler should
be hurried to the scene. She would go
out from the mainland to make a thorough
search of the islands for any trace of
survivors. "This was the best we could
do," added Mr. Tudor, "and we have done
it."
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