Evening star., 1933-04-04

wife of Lieut.. Elliott NJ Moore, a re-
tired Navy officer. They also live in
California.
Portland's Message.
The text of the message from the
Portland to the Navy follows:
Portland maintaining position of
Phoebus. Mojave, McDougal, Hunt and
Cole, searching, also two Coast Guard
planes.
Portland has covered most probable
areas en- route to present position.
Tucker Coast Guard vesseD reports
Akron crashed and then caught fire.
"She was in severe electrical storm.
Lieut.. Comdr. Wiley gives no reason
for crash.
wiley (and) two enlisted men and
body of Chief Radioman Copeland en-
route New York on Tucker.
visibility now about miles"
Wreckage Reported.
Sighting of considerable wreckage was
reported to the Navy by the Coast
Guard destroyer Tucker.
I Naval officers said the Tucker had
apparently found no signs of life or in
dications that further search of the
wreckage was essential, since they had
proceeded from the point where it was
found.
The Tucker repeated previous in
formation which it had wirelesSed
| through the cruiser Portland saying the
Akron had crashed and then caught fire
! in a severe electrical storm. The Tucker
added that Lieut.. Comdr. Wiley could
| give no reason for the crash.
mo other information obtained SO
! far" the fuckers message concluded.
The destroyer about daybreak in max
ing contact with the Portland had
passed some other wreckage, but a
search of it had been without results.
Chairman Trammell of the Senate
Naval Committee said he thought a
congressional investigation probably
would be made.
The disaster is most shocking" he
said. Our Navy and our Nation have
| felt a deep pride in the Akron, and her
fate in combat with terrific windstorm
again illustrates what difficult task il
is for man to overcome the unrestrained
forces of the elements"
Was Headed for Boston.
| President Roosevelt ordered Col
Henry Latrobe Roosevelt-Assistan1
Secretary of the Navy-to go to tht
Naval Air Station at Lakehurst, N. J.
today to assume charge Of rescue worl
and investigation.
The Assistant Secretary was accom-
| panied by his aide, Comdr. M. c. Tis'
dale. The trip was by automobile.
| Meanwhile, the President eagerly
awaited latest reports.
Mrs. Roosevelt Immediately aftel
breakfast drove to the home Of Mrs
| Moffett
At the Capitol, Senator Trammell!
Office later announced the Naval Com
mittee would cooperate with the Nav!
to determine the disaster cause.
1t was added that pending this in
vestigation. the committee would max,
no attempt to make an independen
inquiry.
Contrary to previous information tina
the Akron was making a training
flight. the Navy disclosed today tina
It's destination was the first naval dis
trict with headquarters at Boston.
The flight purpose was to adjust er
rors IN radio compasses along the coast
1t had been arranged to spend four day
along the New England Coast WORKING
with compass stations.
Sent Routine Message.
From the time it cleared Lakehurs
until the first news of its destruction
came from the tanker Phoebus, tn
Navy here received only this messag
at 7:30 o'clock last night:
!, Akron Lakehurst for sea. Adnira
Moffett on board"
The message was simply the usua
routine clearance dispatch.
Under normal conditions, the airshi
was supposed to report its position ever
. four hours to the Navy, but due t
stormy conditions and the necessity 70
the ship to have uninterrupted and &C