The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-12-28


Tempests which ragged over the Med
iterranean and northern Africa last
Friday and Saturday are believed to
have driven tre Dixmude from the
Gulf Of Gabes out to the open sea.
where it may have crashed and sunk.
The Sicilians come dpon the COM
mander's body as 1t f1oated in the sea
some six miles of the little town OF
Siacca, near Girgenti. Papers found
In the pockets served TO identify the
body.
Whether Captain De Greneda had
leaped overheard from the Dixmude
or whether he and the forty-nine 9TH
ers who sailed on the dirigibIe ten
days ago were carried down in
crash. was not at first made clear.
Warships Patrol Waters
French warships were ordered i'm
mediately to patrol the waters be
tween Tunls and the Sicilian coast in
the fear others OF the crew may have
been drowned and their bodies car
ried there n the storm.
Announcemnt OF the finding Of Cap
moment when false hopes had been
raised by reports from Insalah. an
oasis in the Sahara desert, told OF the
Dixmude having been south of there
as late at Wednesday night.
Native tribesmen were reported to
have ridden 200 kilometers across the
desert to report the big bird OF the
sky to the French commander at
AInsalahl and airplanes were immediate
" dispatched in search.
7Thef finding CT Commander Creme
da's body some 225 miles northeast
Of TuTas does not mean. the ministry
Of marine pointed out, the Dixmude
herself may not have drifted 1000
miles to the southwark.
But it is considered unlikely the
young commander would have desert
ed his airship except in her last ex
tremity.
The ministry pointed out in the
event Of the news from Insalah being
correct and the airship's being adrift
over the heart Of the Sahara, her &C.
cupants. If any. face experiences even
more terrible than those feared for
them.
SaVageS InhaDIt Region
Savage tribes inhahIt the Hoggar
region. 1000 miles from Algiers.
whittier the natives reported having
seen the dirigible drifting. Colonials
recall terrible massacre at the Flat
ters mission years ago.
The Hoggar region is in what is
practically the center of the Sahara
a district almost inaccessible from the
outside, and relief workers would re-
trate it. Nevertheless, before word
was received Of the grewsome find by
the fisher folk, relief expeditions were
ordered to make the start.
Natives Report Ship
The ministry of marines commu-
. nique at midnight said a telegram had
abeen received from the military post
Sat Martinprey. transmitting the fol-
lowing, which had been relayed by
military courier from Insalah:
1.-THE Dixmude was observed 200
kiIometers south Of Insalah, Supposed
tN nGdQSQ LONdTus IdIilulI6S5GL. A
patro! under French command started
Immediately for Hoggar. A second
patrol went to Hangaim- A swift
courier was dispatched to Abmet 10
confirm the Dixmude's s presence and
TO carry instructions to her com
mander in case the dirigible lands.
Whether the DixmUde. as seen by
the natives near Hoggar. appeared to
have men aboard. was not as
cartained. Very likely. the ministry
said. the simple natives would not
be capable Of determining, for they
regard the airship with awe as some
magic thing. The ministry believes
the Dixmude actually has drifted into
the Sahara, for officials cannot
imagine why the tribesmen should
make up the tale and travel 200 miles
to the French military post to tell
It, knowing that they would be
punished il they were lying. Mirages,
according TO the ministry. are not
common in the Hoggar district. How
ever, the natives report lacks con-
f1rmation.