The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-12
NEW PL Al|E
HARD.7O
GET TO
HIM
Survivors Of 12-Day Tramp
Await Orders-NeWs Brings
Comrades Joy

Major Frederic L. Martin, leader
of the army's round-the-world air
plane flight, who has turned up
safe at Port Moller, a small trad.
ing post on the bleak Alaskan
peninsula, after being lost in the
wilderness for twelve days, win
not attempt to continue the flight,
it was said here today.
Word Brings Army Joy.
Orders probably will be dis
patched to the flight commander
and his assistant, Sergeant Alvs
Harvey, to return to the United
States, leaving the other three
planes to continue the Journey.
News Of Martins safety. after
crashing into a mountain peak and
wrecking his flagship plane, the
Seattle. was received with un.
disguised joy today in army, navy
and Government circles. He
crashed on April 30. and until his
arrival on foot yesterday at Port
Moller, nothing had been heard
of him, Sergeant Harvey or their
plane.
Army officials said today IL would
be impractical for Martin to attempt
to rejoin his companions, who are
now some $500 miles beyond him ,
and awaiting favorable conditions to
hop off for Japan.
1t would take weeks for new
plane and outfit to reach Martin and
Harvey. Their own ship, the Seattle,
Is wrecked beyond any hope of sal.
wage. according to the meager adj
vices that have reached Washington.
Wandered IL Days.
The story OF Martins crash In
the Aleutian range and the subse.
quent twelve days of wandering In
that little inhabited country before
reaching a settlement il expected to
prove an epic. The commander and
hls Tight assistant were well euuip.
ped with emergency rations matches
and firearms, however, and officers
FAMILIAR with Alaskan conditions
said 1t was probable the filters az.
perienced no hardships from the
standpoint of hunger and thirst.
Climatic conditions in that region
are bad at this time of the wear.
though, and the physical difficulties
or travelling are enormous, there be.
ing no roads and few trails.
Ends Extensive Search.
The arrival of the missing filters
at Port Miller ends one of the
most extensive searches ever In.
stituted by the Government for one
OF Its lost representatives.
For twelve days the waters Of
Alaska have been searched by cut
tiers. fishing vessels, destroyers and
boats OF every description. Dog
teams have even been dispatched
over the snowy wastes in an effort
to locate the missing men.
While awaiting details of Martins
experiences, army officials FASTENED
today to speak high praise for the
courageous fight the flight com.
me nder and his assistant put up
against terrific odds.
The game fight which the
aviators undoubtedly made getting
into port In an inspiration to the
entire service" said Secretary Of
War Weeks.
Up to this afternoon, Major Mar.
tin had made no further report to
the air service other than his orig
inal telegram telling of his ar.
rival. This message said:
Crashed against mountain in
fog 30th April. 2:S0. Neither hurt.
Ship total wreck. Existence due to
concentrated food and nerve. Ex.
hausted. Found food. Rested
three days. Walked beach. Await.
ing instructions here. Martini"
The three remaining planes of
the round.the-world flight are safe.
ly riding out some bad weather
around Attu Island and awaiting
favorable conditions to take the
next hop across the Bering sea.
The following message was re.
ceived this morning by the chief
of air service from Lieutenant
Lowell Smith, now commanding:
Aboard e. G. Cutter Haida.
Woolies and rough sea prevented
work on planes today. Extra
anchors putt and planes riding safe
ly.--Smith."
"Woolies" is air service slang for
low hanging, snow clouds.
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