Evening star., 1929-06-24
Wreckage Is Sighted off
IsIands-Steamer Reports
Seeing Flare Dropped.
MAY HAVE CONTINUED
FLIGHT TO NEW YORK
Rumor That Amphibian Reached
First Objective Brings Denial
From Government Officials.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
MADRID, June 24--Alarmed by the
disappearance of Maj. Ramon Franco
and three companions on a flight to
New York by way Of the Azores, Span
ish authorities today dispatched de-
stroyers and airplanes to scour the sea
between the Spanish coast and the
Azores.
The Spanish government was particu-
larly eager to run down a report from
the British merchant ship Grelden,
stating that this ship saw airplane
wreckage floating in the sea about 100
miles of the Azores. There were no
persons aboard. 5f
As soon as their report was received
the ministry of the navy dispatched
five destroyers from Ferroll with orders
to patrol the district northeast OF the
Azores in the hope of finding this
wreckage. Two squadrons of airplanes
accompanied the destroyers.
In addition to sending out this
squadron as well as other squadrons
to the Azores, the ministry requested
all steamers in the area surrounding the
Azores to keep a sharp lookout in the
hope of sighting the wreckage and de-
termining its identity definitely.
Message Told of Arrival.
The plane left Cartagena. Spain, Fri
day afternoon. Several messages from
It were picked up, the last IL hours
after the departure. Saturday morning
the Portuguese warship Vasco Da Cana
reported picking up message from
Mai. Franco, stating that he had reach
ed the azores and would continue to
New York Sunday. When the flyers
could not be located anywhere in the
Azores, It was decided to send destroy
ers to look for them.
Whether they came down at some
isolated point in the Azores, losing the
use of their radio on alighting in the
water after sending q message of their
arrival, or whether they decided to
continue straight on to New York with
out stopping was not known.
Offciaf announcement of the search
orders said the planes plight was not
considered desperate, since favorable
weather conditions prevailed between
the Iberian Peninsula and the Azores.
and the huge Dornier Wahl seaplane
was entirely seaworthy.
The seYni-official Monday newspaper,
Noticiero del Lunes, quoted the premier,
Gen. Primo de Rivera. as saying: The
aviators must unhappily be considered
The premier added that a previous
report of their safety at San Miguel
Island. in the Azores grouu, made pub
lie by himself Saturday afternoon, was
"inexact."
Boat Returns for Fuel.
The Portuguese gunboat Zaires left
Onta Delgada. near Horta, Saturday
night to search for the seaplane. Soing
in the direction of San Miguel Island.
A Lisbon message timed 3:45 am:
UO:45 pm. Sunday, Eastern standard
time). said "up to this hour" the zaires
had found no trace of the myers. IL
also had failed to receive answers TO
its radio calls. A disptach from Horta
today said the Zaire reported by w1re-
less 1t would put in at Horta tmne-
diately for fuel before proceeding
further on its search.
The four aviators left Alcazares Air
drome, Cartagena. Spain, at 4:5O pm.
QO:5O am, Eastern standard time)
Friday, Yelling their plans In con-
siderable mystery. At the last mo-
ment they left behind their huge four
motored Numancia, which they had con-
structed especially for a round-the
world flight, and took instead a large
Dornier Wahl seaplane, sometimes
called the Jupiter. which they had
brought from italy.
The Dornier plane was faster ma
chine than the Numancia and should
have made the Azores in Is to 10 hours.