ARE FLYERS SAFE?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20782, 17 July 1937, Page 8

ARE FLYERS SAFE?

RADIO MESSAGE INTERCEPTED ANSWERING FLARES REPORTED AMERICAN SEARCH FOR MISS EARHART By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, July 16. A report that the aeroplane used by Miss Amelia Earhart and Captain 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, the seaplanes were sent out “last night” over what was considered to be the most likely area, and flares were fired, 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 will 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 the success of the search was picked up, further radio which seemed to point to its authenticity was intercepted.

LEXINGTON RETURNS PSYCHIC PREDICTS RESCUE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright (Received July 16, 11.4 p.m.) HONOLULU, July 16. The planes of the aircraft carrier Lexington returned after 31 hours battling in rain squalls. The search will be continued to-morrow. A message from Seattle says that a woman psychic, Gene Dennis, a girlh— neighbour of Miss Earhart, said the fliers were alive on a South Sea Island, and would be rescued possibly at the week-end by a fishing boat. She added that Mr Putnam had appealed for her assistance and had sent a pair of Miss Earhart’s stockings and one of Pilot Noonan’s handkerchiefs, to aid the investigations. Miss Dennis is noted for the accuracy of her predictions including those of political events. She forecast the derby winner in 1934. Mr Putnam has not surrendered hope and is maintainging a radio vigil. “Amelia will come through,” he said. A Washington message states that the Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) sent a message to Japan and New Zealand expressing appreciation of the sympathy expressed and the offers of assistance in the search for Miss Earhart.