RADIO HOAX

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 47, 25 February 1939, Page 9

RADIO HOAX

S.O.S. FROM TORPEDOED SHIP THE SEARCH ABANDONED [By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright! NEW YORK, Feb. 23. The S.O.S. message picked up by the Portishead radio station yesterday from a ship giving the callsign PECC, and staing that it had been torpedoed in mid-Atlantic by a submarine and was sinking is regarded as a hoax and the search has been abandoned. It is believed that an amateur operator in Southern Europe or in the Azores Islands is responsible.

NOT THE PECTEN

THE 'VESSEL REPORTED Received Feb. 24, 5.5 p.m. LONDOON, Feb. 23. The owners of the steamer Pecten, which it was thought might have sent the ,SOS message, discounted rumours that the Pecten is involved in the Atlantic mystery. They said that the vessel was miles from the locality indicated. Lloyd’s s ,ite that the Pecten was last reporter at 2.10 a.m. on February 19 150 miles southwest of the Azores, and that the approximate position on February 22 would be between the Azores and the English coast. The master o£ the Pecten advised the owners by radio that the vessel expects to arrive in South-ampton oi. February 26.

MESSAGE NOT HEARD

FRENCH WARSHIPS NEAR AZORES (Independent Cable Service.) Received Feb. 24, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 23. French circles state that several French warships are in the vicinity of the Azores and that none of them picked up the SOS message reporting that a vessel had been torpedoed.

TWO SUBMARINES REPORTED SEEN .

Received Feb. 24, 5.5 p.m. HORTA (Azores), Feb. 23. A steamer which arrived on February 17 reported having seen two submarines of unknown natio i lily south of Fayal Island. It is pointed out that naval manoeuvres are common in the vicinity of Fayal Island in the springtime. Two German cruisers and one supply ship visited Horta last week, and two Italian cruisers and one supply ship arrived on February 22. A Dutch warship is expected.