Believed at Bottom of Ocean

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 179, 1 August 1938, Page 7

Believed at Bottom of Ocean

ONE OF DEEPEST SPOTS IN PACIFIC Received Sunday, 7.30 p.m. NEW YORK, July 31. Although Pan-American officials at Manila declared the Meigs’ oil spot findings were “significant but inconclusive,” virtually all hope has been abandoned. The plane is believed to be at tho bottom of the ocean in one of the deepest spots in the vicinity of the Philippines, ranging to a depth of 5352 fathoms. A search near tho spot where the oil was found will be made to-morrow morning, when it is expected 14 surface vessels will continue the sea hunt, while airships will fly over the islands and forests, where there is a possibility the Clipper may have “pancaked.” Naval officials estimate that tho search is costing 4000 to 5000 dollars a day. The Clipper’s passengers included Major French, of the United States Army; vice-president Wyman, of the Curtiss-Wright Aircraft Corporation; division manager Kennedy, of PanAmerican Airways; Dr. McKinley, dean of tho George Washington University Medical School, and tho United States plant pathologist, Mr. F. C. Meier. The bombers were forced to return to the Philippines to refuel, but the Meigs continued the search. On their return flight the bombers spread out over an area 120 miles wido along a path tho clipper might have taken, three bombers resuming the search at dawn. Pan-American Airways have announced that despite tho fact that a sister ship is missing Clippers have left on their regular passenger flights to Hawaii and the Philippines without the cancellation of a single passage. CORRIGAN'S PENALLTY FOR FLYING ATLANTIC Received Sunday, 7.45 p.m. WASHINGTON, July 30. The Department of Commerce has announced that Corrigan’s licence was suspended for five days, with a nominal penalty. A statement said the flight soized world imagination but stressed the necessity for safety in all flyiDg.