Evening star., 1937-07-08
NAVY FLYERS FAIL
TO OBTAIN CLUES
TO EARHART PLANE
Montanan Hears Message
Purported|y Giving
Pairs Location.
COAST GUARD OFFICIALS
CREDIT RADIO SIGNALS
Outcome of Hunt Is Expected to
Be Learned From Lexington
on Monday.
BACKGROUND

near Ho,uland Island last Friday
,Uhen she Jailed to reach that pin
point in the Pacific after a long
flight from Ne,r Guinea.
Forces OF United States Nary
marshaled in widespread search for
intrepid driatrir, but no clue has
been uncorcred as to whereabouts
OF her and Navigator Fred Noonan.
BY the Associated Press.
HONOLULU, July 8.-The mightiest
peacetime search of the United States
Navy was launched today for Amelia
Earhart, missing round-the- world
flyer, who officials hope is awaiting
rescue on coral reef or sandspit
somewhere southeast of tiny Howland
Island.
The battleship Colorado. cruising
south and east of Rowland, catapulted
its three fighting planes last night to
open the aerial phase of the hunt un-
dertaken by boat when Miss Earhart
failed to arrive at Rowland last Fri
day on 2,570-mile flight from New
Guinea.
The Colorado's aircraft returned to
the battleship after 2 hours and 20
minutes to report no trace had been
sighted of the missing plane or Of
Miss Earhart and her navigator, Fred
Noonan.
Resume Hunt at Dawn.
The planes planned to resume their
search today at dawn 12:30 pm.
Eastern standard time). cruising over
Winslow Reef, l2o miles below the
equator and southeast of Rowland
Island.
From the vicinity of Winslow Reef
the Colorado could catapult her planes
into search of.many islets and reefs
In the Northern Phoenix Islands.
Within flying distance to the south
east would be Canton, Mexican and
Gardner Islands.
What Coast Guard officials in San
Francisco described as one of the most
promising developments in the way of
amateur radio messages was reported
last night from Conrad. Mont.
Ray Havens, Conrad creamery work.
er, phoned the Great Falls Tribune
that at l0:40 pm. (M S. IT, u2:30
am. Thursday, E. S. t., he heard a
mans voice giving position and say
ing "all's we'll"
A few minutes later. he said. he
picked up a second message, which he
gave as follows:
Position 10 west longitude and S
south latitude"
Luke Wright of the Tribune editorial
staff Immediately tuned in his set on
3,105 kilocycles, and reported he heard
q voice, presumably mans, but could
not distinguish the words.
Message Held Promising.
Coast Guard officials at San Fran
cisco said the message appeared
promising for two reasons. First, the
longitude and latitude intersects q
spot approximately where they believe
the missing flyers are down. Second,
the wording of the message sounded
authentic.
Rear Admiral C. G. Murfin, 18th
Naval District commandant and direc-
tor of the mass hunt. predicted success
or failure of the widespread operations
should be determined by midafternoon
Monday.
Reiterating the belief of many ex-
perts here and on the mainland that
Miss Earhart was forced down some-
where in the Phoenix area, Admiral
Murf1n explained the entire region
could be scanned after the arrival of
the powerful aircraft carrier Lexington
and its complement of planes. He esti-
mated thorough search Of the islands
could be made In six hours.
The Lexington, cutting across The
Pacific at 33 knots (nearly SO miles
an hour, vas due here at pm.
eastern standard time). It was to
refuel and speed Immediately toward
Howland more than $500 miles south
west.
Although earlier advices indicated
the carrier had only 81 planes aboard,
Lieut. Comdr. j. L. Reynolds. Admiral
Murfin's aide. said he presumed the
(see EARHART, Page A-3.)