NO SIGN OF EARHART

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 July 1937, Page 7

NO SIGN OF EARHART

SEAPLANES’ WIDE SEARCH RADIO SIGNALS REPORTED [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] SAN FRANCISCO, July 8. Seaplanes from the Colorado scouted McKean Island, in the Phoenix Group, and the 1 water between the northernmost tip of the Phoenix Group and McKean Island. The fiiqrs were unable io find any trace of Miss Earhart. The weather was ideal and visibility perfect. The battleship’s searchlights are sweeping the sea. A local amateur radio operator reported that he heard an SOS signal, mentioning the words “East Howland . . . lights . . . to-night . .must hurry . . can’t hold.” It is now disclosed by Mr. Putnam that his wife- did not carry a water condenser. She carried three gallons from Lae (New Guinea), and otherwise would depend on rain squalls. BYRD’S OPINION. NEW YORK, July 9. Admiral Byrd said there is every good, reason to believe Miss 1 Earhart will be found, whether on land or floating, that is if the signals are actually from her. She could survive indefinitely, even if the plane were forced down on water. The coastguard was informed by the Colorado and Itasca that the weather for the search to-day was fair with some cloudiness.

“MESSAGES” EXPLAINED (Recd. July 10. 8 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, July 9. Amateurs continue to provide the major excitement from the search for Earhart. A Hilo (Hawaii) airport employee reported that he heard voices and messages from Earhart and Noonan asking for aid and stating “cannot hold out much longer,” and the ostensible reply from the Itasca “please hold out. a little longer." Investigation disclosed it was actually a Continental wireless station broadcasting a dramatisation of the Earhart episode. ■ - MARIPOSA’S EFFORTS. AUCKLAND. July 9. Radio operators on board the Mariposa, which arrived at Auckland today, kept a constant, watch for signals from Miss Earhart’s monoplane, but beyond, a faint message transmitted in a woman’s voice over the radio telephone, nothing was heard. Captain Meyer, master of the Mariposa, said his radio room was in close communication with the United States coastguard cutter Itasca, from the time it set out from Honolulu on Monday on the search for the missing fliers. Always in the hope that the Mariposa could give assistance, strict visual, and radio watches were kept. GLIDER RECORD. (Received July 10, 10.30 a.m.) BERLIN, July 9. Feodora Schmidt regained the world gliding record, soaring over th©' North Sea. for twenty-three lioiirs forty-two minutes. ’ - . ITALIAN FACTORIES ROME, July 9. Official statistics, for the first time published, reveal that there 1 are 45,000 men employed in Italy’s military aeroplane factories. There are a further 25.000 men engaged in the construction of GO new air ports. MEDAL FOR TAYLOR CANBERRA, July 1L... . q’he King has awarded to Captain P. G. Taylor, the medal of the Most Excellent' Order of the British Empire. for gallantry (civil division), for his bravery (luring the late Kingsford Smith’s unsuccessful attempt to fly the Tasman in May, 1935. The medal is awarded only m recognition of acts of gallantry; and the standard required is very high. RONGOTAIINQUIRY. WELLINGTON, July 9. The future of Rongotai aerodrome as a terminal for overseas and internal air services is to be investigated by a special committee appointed by the Government. In making this announcement this evening the Minister for Defence (Hon. F. Jones) referred to the rejection by the Wellington ratepayers of recent loan proposals for development work at Rongotai. Mr. Jones said that it was well known that the choice of an area as an aerodrome site very near to Wellington had been justified by experience. The Minister emphasised the importance of the capital city of the Dominion being equipped with adequate airport facilities, sufficient to meet the needs of both internal and overseas air traffic, not only in the immediate future, but during the next 20 years.

The Government is arranging the appointment of the following special committee of investigation: Mr. J. Wood (Engineer-in-Chief to the Public Works Department), chairman: Wing Commander T. M. Wilkes (Controller of Civil Aviation), Wing Commander the Hon. R. A. Cochrane (Chief of the Air Staff), Mr. E. A. Gibson (engineer of aerodrome services to the Public Works Department), Commander B. A. Blythe (chief pilot of Union Airways), Commander B. Bolt (chief pilot of Cook Strait Airways), and Mr. E. R. McKillop (Acting-City Engineer of the Wellington City Council).