The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-03

Miss Earhart's plane is land craft-a Lockheed-Electra under slung monoplane.
 Navy Plane Searches
 A United States navy plane com manded by Lieutenant W. w. Jarvey left Honolulu last night for Rowland to aid in the search. Rowland is 1900 miles west of Honolulu.
 The coast guard cutter Itasca, which was at Rowland topawait Miss Earhart'S arrival, started searching for the missing pair yesterday af- ternoon.
 The U. s. s. Swan was ordered to proceed to Rowland from a point midway between the tiny island and Honolulu.
 Preparations were being made simultaneously to send other service craft-army, navy and cost guard to Rowland later today.
 Lieutenant Harvey's rescue plane normally carries crew of six men. The creww, however, was augmented for the rescue attempt. Aboard, be- sides the commanding officer, were Lieutenant William Drane, Lieuten- ant E. F. Lytell, Cadet P. w. Smith, Radiomen Mccormick and Williams, and Mechanics Curly and English.
 The plane will be refueled at Rowland where 90 fifty gallon drums of gasoline had been placed for Miss Earhart's plane.
 Other Help Given
 Navy autorities announced that the U. S. Pelican and the U s. s. Colorado would leave Pearl Harbor within a few hours to aid in the search. The U. s. s. Talbot was standing by to aid Lieutenant Har- vey,s patrol plane if necessary.
 The search was spurred by reports that weak signals were being picked up, which, 1t was believed, were from Miss Earhart's craft. The coast guard said it picked up such strong signals at 11:30 PSF last night be- at 12:4S a. m. PSF today. fore receiving the strong signal" Army operators at Fort Shafter said they had picked up similar sig nalS.
 These reports substantiated the hope that the plane was floating and that Miss Earhart and Noonan would be rescued.
 Rowland Island reported good weather in that area.
 Overshot Rowland
 Officers aboard the Cutter Itasca reported they were convinced Miss Earhart had overshot Howlwand to the northwest.
 Captain Bill Anderson, veteran Seafaring man wwho has cruised the South Seas for years and is familiar with currents and wind, told the United Press he believed Miss Ear hart and Noonan were alive and floating slowly westward of How land.
 '"They probably will remain afloat for days" he said. T recall the 10 days during which Lieutenant Con- mander John Rodgers and a crew of four fioated in their plane before they were found September 10, 1925.
 T believe it is possible to chart Miss Earhart's course and discover her probable whereabouts just as was done in the case of Rodgers and his party.
 This should lead to eventual res- cue"
 Anderson said the current where the plane is believed down runs westerly at about two knots. Pre- vailing winds are easterly.
 Might Reach Islands
 Coast guard officials believed Miss Earhart's directional finder was not working properly.
 They said Miss Earhart reported difficulty contracting the Cutter Itas- ca with her radio because of static. She frequently resorted to voice broadcasting which the Itasca picked up only fragmentarily.
 Messages received from the plane, however, indicated Miss Earhart and Eoonan had battled cloudy weather throughout the night after their takeof from Lac.
 The Itasca reported that one of Miss Earhart's latest messages gave an apparent position which lacked a reference point but indicated she was running north and south, and also circling trying to locate How land"
 No Doubt of Landing
 A Pan American Airways pilot said that in event of a calm sea "There was no doubt that the plane landed safely" He pointed out that the sea around Rowland is usually calm.
 That's the doldrums area" he said.
 He also echoed Bicknells faith in Miss Earhart's life raft.
 "They've been known to keep afioat for week." he said
 Clarence Bicknell, Pan American Airways port manager at Honolulu, said:
 "There are numerous factors in connection with an attempted land- ing of land plane at sea such as wind and sea conditions. A favor able factor was that the ship was light due to exhausted fuel supply. This would have enabled Miss Ear hart to set the plane down tail first without breaking up. It all depends on combination of skill and @ lucky landing.
 "Also, Miss Earhart and Noonan have a life raft which should float for days in event they are forced to leave the plane"
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