Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-08-23
Air Chiefs Cheered by Report
LocateIIi Was Holding to
Course Laid for Greenland
Jump When Seen.
SAFE IF FORCED DOWN
TO SEA, COMRADE SAYS
Plane Is Stanch and Has Food
Enough to Last a Week-Fog
Hampering Search, But U. S.
Ships Will Stand By-Cruiser
Detroit Ordered North.

Lieut.. Locatelli. Italian flyer, who
left with the American world flight
squadron on the hop from Iceland
to Greenland, and who now is miss
ing, was last sighted us miles north
east of Frederiksdal, Greenland. on
the exact course plotted for the
flight from Reykjavik, Iceland, to
Frederiksdal.
Wireless reports from Admiral
Magruder, commanding the Ameri-
can naval craft supporting the flyers
IN the Arctic waters, were received
today by the Navy Department and
contained first definite information
which, Air Service experts believe,
will prove helpful to the Navy Off
cials directing the search for Lieut..
Iocatelli
Lost in Fog.
Admiral Magruder's dispatch said:
"Plane of Italian aviator is lost in
fog. When sighted last, plane was
in latitude 61-30 longitude $3.50 (about
275 miles northeast of FrederiksdaD
at 1870 G. NJ. T. (2:3O pm, Greenwich
mean time, August 21). Search is be-
ing conducted for it by Raleigh, Rich
mond and Barry.
Flight to Indian Harbor being
guarded by Milwaukee and four de-
StroyerS. 1t is requested that the
U. S. S. Brazos Guel ship) be sent
with dispatch to Bay Island, west
coast of Newfoundland"
reference to the flight to Indian
Harbor" was accepted by Army air
service officials as meaning that the
destroyers and cruiser had been de-
tailed by Admiral Magruder to sup
port the American flyers over the
route between Frederiksdal and
Ivigtut.
Wide Search Planned.
Comprehensive plans to search on
land and sea for Lieut.. Locatelli were
outlined in earlier messages received
by the Navy Department today from
the cruisers Milwaukee and Rich
mond.
The message from the Milwaukee,
relayed by way of Louisburg, N. S.,
said natives familiar with the coast
of Greenland between Frederiksdal
and Frederikshade will conduct
search, using motor boats, small boats
and kyaks,' and that search parties
carrying emergency rations and med
fcal supplies (will be) employed"
Describing conditions impeding the
searchers, the dispatch tersely began,
NO flight; fog" 1t concluded with,
"Reauested authorization by CanSd-
ian government or Army Air Service
for necessary expenditures"
The fog also was mentioned in the
Richmond message, which was for
warded by the American naval at
tache at London.
Planes Are Employed.
Search stopped by fog" it said.
"When weather clears, will send
Barry Gu. S. destroyer) to search
south of Farswell (Cape Farewel)
and then, account fuel shortage, pro-
ceed Pisto. Assuming Brazos( naval
oil tanker) coming, Raleigh (cruiser)
is retained to use her planes in
search until Locatelli located"
A pontoon on one of the American
planes, it was reported. was broken
in landing at Frederiksda
The pontoon strut was broken on
plane No 4, piloted by Lieut.. Nelson
when the plane landed in a heavy
sea at Frederik Sdal, Maj. Gen. Patrick
chief of the Army Air Service was
informed today in a message from
Lieut.. Smith, comanding the world
flyers. The dispatch added that re-
pairs were expected to be COM
pleted in time for the aviators to
reach Ivigtut, on the western coast
of Greenland, on "the ed" This in
dicates that the aviators planned to
leave Frederiksdal yesterday for
Ivigtut.
Expect Quick Repairs.
The message follows: Flight
left Reykjavik z. No. 2 landed
Frederiksdal 10 hours 80 minutes
No 4, IL hours 20 minutes.
Very heavy fog and icebergs
caused separation.
"Locatelli left with us, then went
ahead, but failed to arrive.
plane four damaged pontoon strut
landing in heavy sea, but expect
repair in time to reach Icigtut
twenty-Second"
Confirmation of the safety OF
Lieuts. Smith and Nelson, the Ameri.
can flyers. was received last night
officially. after a wait of more than
"a hours. Details were promised in
the brief message. but none began
to come in until nearly am. today
despite the efforts of communication
officers who spent another nigh,
Combing the air for news.
Another Cruiser Ordered Out.
The light cruiser Detroit was or.
dered today by the Navy Department tc
proceed at once from Newport, r. l..
to ST. Johns, New Brunswick, to joir
the naval patrol, in safeguarding the
flyers on the trip from Indian Har-
bor, Labrador, to Boston.
orders were issued Immediately
upon receipt of wireless requests
from Rear Admiral Magruder. who
said that the Detroit should arrive