Little hope is held for the Iife of Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt, who vanished when swept out to sea in a churning 15-foot surf whereas swimming at present.
Search leaders and the Prime Minister’s workers mentioned that they had not given up hope, however native fishermen believed he had been sucked below by treacherous currents.
A thousand police, troopers, sailors, airmen and civilians scoured the ocean seaside right here vainly after the 59-year-old chief disappeared about midday, till evening fell. Troops on the seaside and a navy vessel with highly effective searchlights patrolled throughout the evening.
As a chill, gray daybreak neared, different searchers in helicopters, boats and on foot and divers ready to comb once more seven miles of seaside and out to sea.
Police Superintendent George Hill mentioned late tonight: “It appears to be like hopeless, however he could have been washed ashore in an exhausted state.
“He might have been hit on the pinnacle and be wandering round someplace or mendacity within the scrub.”
One other searcher, Inspector L. J. Newell, mentioned: “I don’t maintain out very a lot likelihood for the Prime Minister now.”
Sources in Canberra, the nationwide capital, mentioned Deputy Prime Minister John McEwen, 67, will likely be sworn in tomorrow morning as Prime Minister if the renewed search is unavailing.
World leaders, together with President Johnson, with whom Mr Holt had a particular rapport, have expressed shock and grave concern at Mr Holt’s obvious demise.
Mr Johnson personally contacted the U.S. Embassy in Canberra by phone and instructed he was to be given any optimistic information at any time of the day or evening.
In New Delhi, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, on listening to the information, made anxious inquiries from the Australian Excessive Commissioner.
British Prime Minister Harold Wilson was shocked and tremendously distressed. His Press Secretary mentioned in London that the Prime Minister, who’s spending the week-end at his nation house, was being stored in contact with newest developments within the seek for Mr Holt.
Queen Knowledgeable
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have additionally been advised of Mr Holt’s disappearance and have requested to be stored knowledgeable of developments.
Mr Holt disappeared on a seaside infamous for its fickleness—the Ocean Seaside, referred to as the “Again Seaside” at Portsea, 60 miles from Melbourne.
Just a few weeks in the past, Mr Holt almost drowned there, one in every of his workers mentioned. Solely spear-fisherman’s flippers on his ft gave him the ability to save lots of himself from the currents.
Two years in the past, an area fisherman disappeared-and the ocean nonetheless has not given up his physique.
Navy divers left the scene at about 9 p.m. (native) after they introduced the murky circumstances made additional search unattainable.
Earlier, a senior police officer mentioned additional search efforts in darkness could be futile. However military authorities declared their personnel would proceed the search by floodlight all through the evening.
Mr Holt’s spouse, Zara, arrived on the cordoned-off space close to Portsea quarantine station some quarter-hour after the radio announcement.
She had flown from Canberra to Melbourne instantly on listening to of his disappearance.
A silent and apprehensive crowd started to type close to Portsea village as information of the Prime Minister’s disappearance unfold.
A composed Mrs Holt was reported to be sustaining hope. She was mentioned to really feel that the Prime Minister, a powerful and match man, could have stumbled ashore at an remoted level.
Huge search
Mr McEwen, in a press release, referred to the large seek for Mr Holt and added. “This night all of us share with Mrs Holt and her household their horrible anxiousness.”
Mr Holt entered the water at 1-40 p.m. (native) about two miles from his house. One among his companions raised the alarm when he did not floor after a dive.
One report mentioned Mr Holt obtained into difficulties in uneven seas close to some crayfish pots.
Native residents mentioned he might need fallen sufferer to Victoria’s infamous tidal rip, which had been significantly dangerous for the previous two days.
Unconfirmed experiences mentioned Mr Holt had remarked early at present he was moving into for a quiet swim in waters he knew effectively.
A greying fit-looking man he gained large help earlier this yr in his nationwide Kennedy like marketing campaign to encourage bodily health amongst Australians. He was a powerful swimmer.
However some experiences mentioned the Prime Minister suffered a muscle damage just lately, resulting in hypothesis he could have been attacked by cramp.
Different experiences speculated that Mr Holt-who was not carrying any underwater weapons or spearfishing equipment-might have been attacked by a shark. The shark menace is larger in Victorian waters presently of yr although assaults on swimmers and skin-divers aren’t frequent.
The world has an uneven sea ground. The ocean roars in from bays straight, swirls across the depressions and races out to sea once more.
Mr Holt, born on Aug. 5, 1908, was a former lawyer.
In 1966 when Sir Robert Menzles retired, Mr Holt, then Deputy chief of the Liberal Celebration, was elected Prime Minister.
Mr Holt didn’t obtain the identical worldwide stature as Sir Robert however he was dedicated to forging an in depth defence alliance with the USA.
Not like his predecessor, he gravitated extra in the direction of the White Home than to Whitehall.
His agency help of U.S. coverage on Vietnam and his angle to the Vietnam battle gained worldwide publicity by the case of a 21-year-old conscientious objector, William White, who was compelled into militry service.
Throughout his Premiership, Australia’s dedication to the battle was raised from 1,500 males to greater than 8,000.
Mr Holt was a member of Parliament from 1935 and a Minister from 1939, apart from the years 1941-49 when the Liberals had been in opposition.
His household has sturdy theatrical connections. His father, Mr Tom Holt, was a theatre supervisor, and his youthful brother is an govt of an Australian theatre chain.
In his early years as a lawyer, he himself had a hyperlink with present enterprise as secretary of the Victorian Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Affiliation.
He turned a minister at 31 within the first Menzies Authorities in 1939 however resigned to develop into a gunner within the Australian forces.
When three Ministers had been killed in an air crash in 1940, he was recalled from the military to develop into Minister for Labour and Nationwide Service.
He held the identical portfolio when a Liberal and Nation Celebration coalition got here to energy in 1949. He was additionally made Immigration Minister.
As Treasurer (Finance Minister) from 1958, his reputation fluctuated with the financial system, touching a low level in 1960 with the credit score squeeze.
As a scholar at Melbourne College, Mr Holt excelled at cricket, soccer and tennis.
In later years his favorite hobbies had been skindiving and spearfishing.
Whereas at college he courted Zara Dickens, daughter of a rich businessman, however she married a British military officer and went to stay in India.
Eighteen years later she returned to Melbourne, a divorcee with three sons, and in 1946 married Mr Holt. She is a clothier.