MISSING FLIERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 183, 6 July 1937, Page 7

MISSING FLIERS

UNVERIFIED MESSAGES. ARRANGEMENTS CRITICISED. MRS PUTNAM BLAMED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received July G, 9.5 a.m. NEW YORK, July 5. Radio amateurs at San Francisco, Auburn and Washington claimed to have picked up messages on 15,600 kilocycles (19.2 metres) stating: “Still alive. Better hurry. Tell my husband I am all right.” “Waterlogged. Can’t last much longer.” Thev have not been verified as coming from Mrs Putnam.

A Washington message says that the coastguard has made public the Itasca’s log showing the failure of Mrs Putnam to co-operate with the ship before her disappearance. It showed that the aviatrix had failed to adjust her radio transmissions to the frequency attuned to the ship’s direction-finder, although the Itasca was stationed at Howland Rland at Mrs Putnam’s request. The Itasca’s report read in part: “Although Mrs Putnam was advised by the Itasca that the frequency range of the direction-finder was 500 kilocycles (600 metres) and was repeatedly requested to transmit on that frequency to enable ships to cut in, she neither acknowledged nor complied with the request although the Itasca’s advice indicates her ability to transmit oil that frequency.”

WEAK SIGNALS HEARD

ORIGIN HARD TO LOCATE,

WASHINGTON, July 5. Coastguard headquarters have reported that the Howland Island radio station heard signals from Mrs Putnam at 5.15 this morning eastern standard time. it is reported from Honolulu that three powerful radio stations have been receiving faint signals which are believed almost certainly to be from the missing airwoman, Mrs Amelia Earhart Putnam. The estimated origin is south from Howland Island, but the receivers were unable to place the location exactly due to the weakness of the signals.

The United States coastguard cutter Itasca, which was cruising north-west of Howland Island, changed her course after notification of Pan-American Airways’ calculations, which would place the airwoman roughly upon a line from Moknpu Point southward, running slightly eastward of Howland Island. The coasguard cutter Itasca reported by radio at 11 p.m., eastern standard time, yesterday, that she had searched north-west and north-east of Howland Island over a radius of 120 miles without result. Visibility and sea conditions were excellent.

DANGEROUS FLIGHTS

OFFICIAL ATTITUDE HARDENING

WASHINGTON, July 4

Aviation officials aro scanning refKM'ts on the search for Mrs Putnam with a growing determination to discourage such flights in the future. Most officials are absent from the city on holiday. Those remaining refuse to discuss wnat action may be taken, but it appears virtually certain that the Government will take a firmer stand. Department of Commerce officials have long been cool toward what they term “stunt” flights over long stretches of water. For example, the refusal to sanction the Lindbergh Commemoration Race to Paris was due to fear that it would result in a tragedy which would be harmful to plans' for the establishment of a regular trans-Atlantic service.

Mrs Putnam came to Washington several times last month to discuss the question of official aid. She was given all the technical advice available, but no official encouragement. One of the things she sought but failed to obtain was the establishment of a post office at Howland Island, despite an appeal direct to the PostmasterUeneral (Mr Janies A. Farley). Fie declined on the ground that it was not feasible. She wanted it in order io have thousands of first-cover letters, which she carried, franked. Officials said that every possible moans of locating tli airwoman would lie utilised. The cost to the Government is expected to amount to many thousands of dollars. JAPAN WILL HELP. FISHING SHIPS AND NAVY. Received July G. 11.25 a.m. TOIvIO, July 5. Air K. Hirota (Minister of Foreign Affairs) has informed the United States that Japanese fishing vessels as well as the navy are ready to join in tho search for Mrs Putnam.