FLIERS SIGHTED.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 July 1937, Page 5

FLIERS SIGHTED.

ANSWERING PLASH RECEIVED. RADIO MESSAGE HEARD IN AUCKLAND. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Last Night. A report that 'the aeroplane used by Mrs. Putnam and Mr. F. J. Noonan had been sighted by one of the seaplanes operating from the United States aircraft carrier Lexington, was contained in a private, radio message received in Auckland to-night. The Lexington has been making a final search in the vicinity of Howland Island, using 42 seaplanes. Owing to the great distance from which the message was picked up, the information received was patchy and had to be pieced together, but the impression gained was that, as a last despairing effort, seaplanes were seat out ‘Hast night” over what was considered to be the moat likely area -and flares were fifed and that one of them received an answering flash. The position was immediately communicated to the mother ship. It was not possible to determine how far the seaplane was from the Lexington at the time this possible indication of the presence of the lost fliers was received, but as the seaplanes have a very large cruising range, it is possible it may be some time before the ship can reach the position from which the answering flash was given. It may also happen that the seaplanes which remain in the vicinity will have to await daylight to ascertain if both fliers are still alive and uninjured.

Some time after the first indication of success of the search was picked up a further radio message, which seemed to point to the authenticity of the information, was intercepted.

WOMAN PSYCHIC’is FORECAST Received Friday, 11 p.m. . HONOLULU, July IG. The Lexington's 'planes returned after three and a-half hours' battling with rain squalls. The search will be continued to-morrow. A message from Seattle says that a woman physic, Gene Dennis, a girlhood neighbour of Mr. Earhart-Putnam, said the fliers were alive on a South Sea island and would be rescued, possibly at the week-end by a fishing boat. She ad'ded that Mr, Putnam had appealed for her assistance and had sent a pair of his wife’s stockings and Noonan's handkerchief to aid in the investigations. ! . Miss Dennis is noted for the accuracy of her predictions including political events. She forecast the Derby winner in 1931. Mr. Putnam has not surrendered hope and is maintaining his radio vigil. He said “Amelia will come through.” A Washington message states that Mr. Cordell Hull (Secretary of State) sent a messasge to Japan and New Zealand expressing appreciation of their sympathy and offers of assistance in the search for Mrs. Earhart-Putnam. RUMOUR NOT BELIEVED; (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) NEW YORK, July 16. The Navy Department has no information concerning Mrs. Earhart Putnam. It does not believe the rumour picked up by Auckland (New Zealand) that her 'plane has been sighted by one of the Lexington's machines.