Lost Vessel

Search for N.G. Government’s Schooner

PRESENT indications are that the schooner Hermes, owned and operated by the New Guinea Administration, has been lost at sea, somewhere off the north ern coast of New Guinea. A search is still proceeding, however, and hope remains that, even if the schooner has been cast away, the three white men and seventeen natives who were aboard her will be found alive upon some isolated coast.

The Administrator (Brigadier-General McNicoll) used the Hermes in connection with his recent visit to the Upper Sepik River. He left the schooner at Madang and

returned to Rabaul by the Burns, Philp motor-ship Macdhui. The Hermes left Ma dang for Rabaul, via the Witu Islands, on November 10, in charge of the engineer, Mr.

J. A. Andrews, with Mr. N. E. Weldon, an assistant surveyor of the Administration, and Mr. F. Barclay, an official of Amalga mated Wireless Ltd., and -17 natives on board.

The wireless set used by the Administra tor in the Sepik River was on board, but no communication has been received since the schooner left Madang.

The Burns, Philp steamer Maiwara, which returned from Witu on November 16, had heard nothing of the Hermes.

The Administrator sent vessels from Salamaua and Kavieng, Messrs. W. R. Car penter & Co.’s vessel “Desikoko” went out on a special search; but no trace whatever of the Hermes has been found.

From Our Own Correspondent RABAUL, December 5.

There is still no word of the missing Hermes and little hope is now held out for its safety. Searches have been made by the Desikoko; the Government ketch Roamer, stationed at Salamaua, which has been through Dampier Strait; and by the Government ketch Nereus, which has gone out from Kavieng to the Witu Islands.

The Schooner Hermes