The Bangkok Post, July 9, 1947, p. 1, main story
Rewards Offered in U.S. But No “Discs” Show Up
Washington, July 8 (UP)—While “flying saucers” reportedly are still flitting about the nation, with rewards set for capturing one “alive”, the mysterious phenomenon today assumed a new turn with Soviet Vice consul in Los Angeles Eugene Tunatsev entering the nationwide discussion on it.
Vice Consul Tunatzev scoffed at suggestions made in some circles that the saucers might have come from Russia. He said “Russia respects the sovereignty of all nations and by no stretch of the imagination would she use another country as a proving ground.”
Meanwhile, according to a Reuter report, the United States Army Air Force announced in New Mexico that something answering descriptions of the “flying disc” had been found on a ranch nearby and was now in the Army’s possession.
The find was made last week, Lieut. Warren Haught, public information officer of the Roswell army airfield said. He added the “disc” had been turned over to the airfield through the sheriff’s office. It was inspected at the Roswell field and subsequently “loaned” to higher authorities. The Army gave no other details.
Another United Press dispatch said the Army Air Force said Roger B. Romney [sic], commander of the Eighth air force, forwarded to the Wright Field, Ohio, an object which might be the so-called flying disc. Romney said the object was “of very flimsy construction—almost like a box-kite”. The air force emphasized that no one had seen it flying in the air.
Through cash rewards of [a] thousand dollars were offered for a genuine specimen of the “flying disc” in Chicago and Los Angeles, no claimants for the rewards have appeared so far, but newspapers and radio stations are swamped with reports form persons claiming to have seen them.
Meanwhile, Professor Albert Einstein is reported is reported to have said he had no comment to make and that he was not aware of the “saucers” until told by the United Press.
President Truman’s press secretary Mr. Charles Ross, said that a juggler had telegraphed the President from California explaining that he was practicing with saucers but “they just got out of hand.”
He claimed responsibility for the whole thing.
Professor Albert Einstein said he had “absolutely no comment” and said he was not even aware that saucers were flying until told by the United Press.
Newspapers and radio stations were swamped with reports from persons who claimed to have seen discs, but Kansas—a “dry” state—boasted that none of its residents reported seeing discs.
In Hollywood, Orson Welles, whose “invasion from Mars” broadcast fooled the nation in 1938, declared that he was not involved in the present uproar. He added: “I scared the shirts off Americans once. That was enough.”
Several persons telephoned the Mexican National Defense Ministry to report discs over the Mexican capital, but the Ministry spokesman said he did not believe them.
In Sydney, Australia, a psychology professor told 450 students to stare at the sky and see if they could sight any flying saucers. Within ten minutes 22 students reported seeing them. The professor told them: “What you are see are red corpuscles moving across the retinas of your eyes.”
In San Francisco a millinery designer produced a woman’s hat he designed from a flying saucer he saw in a nightmare.
