STILL MISSING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 11

STILL MISSING

AMERICAN FLIERS PACIFIC MYSTERY SEAECH INTENSIFIED PHOENIX ISLANDS [VESSELS MOTE SOUTH By Teletrraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 7. 5.5 p.m.) SAX FRANCISCO. July 'i No success has yet af tended the search in the Pacific for Mrs. Putnam and Mr. F. J. Noonan, who were forced down on Friday when on the New Guinea-Howland Tsland stape of their flight round the world. The missing airwoman's husband, Mr. George H. Putnam, requested that the naval vessels engaged in the search 'should be transferred to the Phoenix Islands. He said he was positive that the fliers were down in that group, probably on a Bmall atoll. f Mr. Putnam said lie expected the other searching vessels to converge on the islands at dawn. Re believes his wife's message giving her position should have been interpreted as 281 miles south, not north, of Rowland Island. The naval authorities, acting 011 Mr. Putnam's request, ordered the battleship Colorado to change her course, and the vessel is headed for Winslow Banks, a cluster of treacherous reefs 200 miles south of Howland. She was about 500 miles from there at 3 p.m. to-day.

Eleven Vessels Round the Islands The Colorado, proceeding under forced draught, expects to reach Winslow at 6.30 p.m. to-morrow, and immediately will catapult throe aeroplanes, which will circle over a wide area and, if without result, the Colorado will then proceed to the area now being geawhed by {he Itasca and Swan. The aircraft-carrier Lexington is duo at Honolulu for refuelling to-morrow and at Howland Island on Saturday. She expects to use a large number of "her 00 aeroplanes for the search. On the basis of present plans at least 11 vessels will be engaged in the search during the week-end. A message from the captain of the coastguard cutter Itasca stated that he had received instructions to proceed to the southern islands in the Phoenix Group. He signalled the fact to the —British freighter Moorby, and the latter abandoned the search and resumed her course.

Confusion Over Radio Message The Lockheed Company wirelessed to the Itasca saying it would be impossible for Mrs. Putnam to send wireless messages if the aeroplane was on the water, but Mr. Putnam said there was a strong possibility that Mr. Noonan might have changed the equipment, making the sending of messages from the water possible. A message received by the naval authorities from the British Broadfeasting Corporation suggested that the position of 281 miles given in the message supposed to have been sent by Mrs. Putnam might have meant instead "2 degrees 8 seconds." That position would be less than 100 miles from Howland Island. The figure " 1 " was considered to be an error in transmission. President Roosevelt has ordered searching vessels to cover as wide an area as possible.

JAPANESE HELP

VESSELS AT MARSHALLS , NORTH-WEST OF HOWLAND ) (Received 'July 7, S.o p.m.) SAX FRANCISCO. July G The Japanese aeroplane - carrier Kamoie and the naval survey ship Koshu have begun a search for Mrs. Putnam and her companion at the Marshall Islands. 500 miles north-west of Howland Island. United States naval circles hold the belief that Mrs. Putnam probably landed on an atoll. Therefore they are preparing a carefully co-ordinated search to last a fortnight.

EXPENSE TO AMERICA . DAILY COST OF SEARCH AMERICAN SHIPS' FUEL BILL y * WASHINGTON. July fci The Dnited States Government, it is estimated, is spending 250,000 dollars a day in the search for the lost fliers. The ships involved are the Lexington, Colorado, Swan and Itasca, three destroyers and a total of 3100 men and 220 officers, not including those attached to radio and shore stations.

■ The fuel bill of the two largest ships alone is 10,000 dollars a day. This estimate does not include the pay of the personnel.

"DARED GREATLY"

PRESS TRIBUTE TO FLIER NEW YORK. July G The New York World Telegram in a leading article, states: "It is easy to say that Mrs. Putnam took needless chances; that even this flight round the world would have proved nothing it had been successful. The fact remains, however, that she dared greatly, living her life to the fullest and taking her triumphs with admirable simplicity. If now she has been overcome by final disaster, her millions of admirers will be* certain that she met it with the same gallantry of spirit."