HOPE FADING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22776, 9 July 1937, Page 11

HOPE FADING

LOST PLIERS' FATE

SEARCH STILL FRUITLESS NAVAL AIRMEN JOIN MR. PUTNAM'S ORDEAL By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 8, 5.5 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, July 7 There is still no trace of Mrs. Putnam and Mr. F. J. Noonan, who were forced down in the Pacific 'on Friday when on the New GuineaHowland Island stage of their flight round the world. The commander of the United States battleship Colorado, in a wireless message to-day, said he had begun an aerial search in the neigh- ' bourhood of Winslow Banks, 200 miles south of Howland Island. Three seaplanes had been catapulted into the air in the afternoon. The coastguard cutter Itasca re- - ported that new directional bearings obtained of the lost fliers' possible position indicated that Mrs. Putnam flashed S.O.S. calls from a line running south-south-east or north-north-west of Howland Island. This line coincided with the last position broadcast from the aeroplane before its descent. The search of the area north of Howland Island having been exhausted, it was believed that the above interpretation of the bearings justified a search considerably south of Howland Island. The Itasca was proceeding to a rendezvous with the Colorado at a point 100 miles from that island, for refuelling before continuing with the latter to Phoenix Island, on the eastern side of the group, where she is expected to arrive at noon to-morrow. The lost airwoman's husband, Mr. George Putnam, cancelled an earlier plan to fly to Honolulu and is remaining at San Francisco. While hope generally for the fliers' safety has sunk to the lowest point since their disappearanct, Mr. Putnam remains cheerful and reiterates his conviction that some of the numerous wireless signals were from his wife and that the aeroplane is somewhere in the Phoenix Islands. Speaking to journalists, Mr. Putnam touched on the possibility of his wife's death, saying: "It was the way she would have chosen. It was to have_ been her last flight of major _ importance, but she had no premonition of disaster. Her messages from Africa expressed delight at the performance of the aeroplane."

A Press Association message from Wellington states that the New Zealand Government has received through the British Ambassador at Washington a request from the United States Government that the cruiser Achilles, which is in the Pacific, and .'other ships under New Zealand's control, should endeavour to intercept wireless messages from Mrs. Putnam. The United States Government also expressed the hope that all other ships at sea would keep a lookout. The New Zealand Government has intimated its desire to offer its cooperation in the search arid ships under its control and ships at sea have been instructed to keep a look-out for the lost aeroplane and to intercept signals.

FLEET OF AEROPLANES LEXINGTON CARRYING 90 DUE AT ISLANDS MONDAY (Received .July 8, 6.50 p.m.). HONOLULU, July 7 In an interview to-day Admiral O. G. Murfin said:—Mrs. Putnam's aeroplane probably is down in the Phoenix group if it was- forced down through lack of petrol and not owing to a sudden mishap. The Phoenix Islands cover an area of 36,000 square miles. Including Howland Island, the area comprises 300,000 miles which can be searched by 90 aeroplanes from the aircraft-carrier Lexington, which will arrive/ there on Monday. They can cover the 36,000 miles in six hours' flying. The Colorado probably will be released from the search as soon as the Lexington arrives. The mine-sweeper Swan will remain there.

The liner Monterey passed east of the Phoenix Islands on Friday and a special watch was kept for the lost fliers, but without result.

FUTURE FLIGHTS QUESTION OF PROHIBITION WASHINGTON CONSIDERING July 8, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 7 The Washington correspondent of the New York Times reports that he asked the Secretary of Commerce, Mr. D. C. Roper, whether his department intended to forbid flights similar to Mrs. Putnam's in future. He replied that it was the department's duty to aid in the development of aviation, and future experimental flights would be judged on their merits and the ability of applicants to carry them out. The department now is considering an application from Mr. James Mattern for a flight from San Francisco to Moscow, via the North Pole.