MISS EARHART

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1937, Page 5

MISS EARHART

A NAVAL SEARCH - ■■■"■» OVER 90 ’PLANES TO JOIN. United Press Association—By Electil I elegraph—Copyright), SAN FRANCISCO, July 8. The warship, Colorado, lias begun an aerial search for the Earhart plane in the neighbourhood of Win- ! slow Island. The ship’s three seaplanes were catapulted into the air. Admiral Minfin said that Miss, Earhart’s plane probably had come down in the Phoenix Group, provided that it had been forced down by-a lack of petrol and not by a sudden mishap. The Phoenix Islands cover an area oi 36.000 square miles, and, including the Howland Island area, a total , area comprising 300 thousand square miles which can be searched by ninety planes from the Lexington which arrives on Monday. They can cover 36,000 miles in six hours flying. The warship Colorado will probably bo released from the search as soon as the Lexington arrives. * The warship Swan will remain, principally as a guard, for .any fallen planes which may need hoisting. The Itasca, after refuelling from the Colorado, will continue her search on the south-west of Howland Island. HUSBAND’S COMMENT SAN FRANCISCO, July 7. Mr Putnam has cancelled earlier plans lie made to fly to Honolulu. Tie said; “I can do just as much here as in Honolulu.” He stated that-, while hope for- Miss Earhart’s safety had sunk to tlie lowest point since the plane’s disappearance, th’o wireless ■ signals were from her, and lie added I that the plane was somewhere ground ed in the Phoenix Group. ■Speaking with pressmen, Mr Putnam momentarily touched on the possibility of his wife’s death. It was the way she would have chosen, he said. This was to have seen tier issu flight of major importance, but she had no premonition of disaster. Her messages from Africa had expressed delight over her performance. “MONTEREY’S” WATCH HONOLULU, July ‘B. The Matson liner Monterey passed east of the Phoenix Isles on Friday. ,4 special watch was kept for Miss Earhart’s plane, but without, result. THE OFFICIAL ATTITUDE NEW YORK. July 8. The Washington correspondent of (he “New York Times” asked Secretary Roper whether the Department of Commerce has planned to forbid flights similar to Miss 'Earhart’s in future. He replied that it was tho ( Department’s duty to aid the development of aviation, and future experimental flights would h'e bulged on , their merits and on the nbilifv of the applicants to carrv them out. The Department was now considering an application by Jimmie Mattern, for a flight from San Francisco to Moscow via the North Polo. WHAT THE FLIGHT SIGNIFIES NEW YORK, July 8. Mr Walter Lippniann, the publicist, said: “The best tilings of mankind are as useless as Miss Earhart’s adventure. They are things undertaken, not for any definite or measureable result, but because someone, not counting tlie costs or calculating the consequences is moved by curiosity love of evcellence a point- of honour, a compulsion to invent or to understand. They have the free and useless energy with which, alone, men surpass themselves.’' N.Z. assistance WELLINGTON, July 8. The New Zealand Government has received, e through the British Ambassador at Washington, a request from the United States Government that H.M.-S. Achilles, which is in the Pacific, and other ships under New. Zealand control, should endeavour to intercept wireless messages from Mrs Putnam. The United States. Government has also expressed the hope that all other ships at sea would keep a look-out. The New Zealand Government lias intimated that it desires to offer its co-operation in the search and the ships under the control of this Government and the ships at sea have been instructed to keep a look-out for the aeroplane and to intercept any signals. HOPE FADING. INTENSIVE SEARCH CONTINUES. (Received this day at 10.30 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, July 8. Hope for Miss Earhart’s rescue have sunk to the lowest point, since her disappearance. Her husband, however, is confident that his wife will he found. Ships and aeroplanes resume the search with the return of daynight. MR NOONAN’S MESSAGE. (Received this day at 12 noon). SAN FRANCISCO. July 8. Airs Noonan has received a package of pictures from Venezuela and a letter

from Jaua, from her husband. The let-1 ter praised Miss Earhart. “Amelia is af grand person for such a trip. She is the only woman flier with whom 1 would care to make such a trip because in addition to being a fine companion she can take hardships as well as a man and work like one also.” MR PUTMAN CONFIDENT. (Received this day at 12 noon). SAN FRANCISCO, July 8. Mr Putman’s confidence in his wife’s rescue has increased with the Colorado’s search, despite the fact that it at first was fruitless. I have not in the least given up hope. The actual search has just started now that the Colorado’s planes are-on the job. Miss J'.arhart’s plane is on land, if as experts believe, Saturday and Sunday’s carrier signals are authentic. The plane will therefore be found as the search from the air broadens with the arrival ot the Lexington, if not before.