["Story of the Koombana", The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 31 March 1912, page 12]
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The Federal Government has also been seized of the terrible nature of the disaster, and on Thursday wired to the Premier offering to bear a portion of the cost of the search undertaken by the State Government, and asked to be furnished with full information as to what had been done, as to what was then being done, and as to what further immediate action was deemed desirable and possible, and as to whether any search for Koombana was being made south of Port Hedland. In reply, Mr. Scaddan furnished minute particulars of the information required, and pointed out that there was little likelihood of success attending any efforts made to the south of Port Hedland. The Prime Minister was also informed of the vast expanse of sea that must be examined, and he was asked whether, in the event of its being considered necessary, the Commonwealth had a gunboat such as the Protector or other vessel which could be sent out for the succor of those who might be in distress. The reply to that wire had not been received at the time of going to press with this section.
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A CURIOUS COINCIDENCE.
Assuming with the greatest sorrow that the Koombana and all on board have come to an untimely end, it will be a sad coincidence that Captains Knight and Allen, who commanded the Wollowra and Marloo, running together to Western Australia nearly 20 years ago, should have lost their lives and ships - the Yongala and Koombana - in exactly the same manner, one on the east coast and the other on the west coast of Australia, and almost on the same day of the same month.
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THE WIRELESS DISGRACE
[criticism of the Commonwealth Governmnent for delays in commissioning a wireless station at Applecross]
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