Australian Prime Minister feared drowned

Port Sea ( Victoria): Little hope is held for the life of Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt who vanished when swept out to sea in a churning 15- foot surf while swimming yesterday.

Search leaders and the Prime Minister’s staff say they have not given up hope, but local fisherman believe he has been sucked under by treacherous currents.

A thousand police, soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians scoured the ocean beach here in vain after the 59- year- old leader disappeared about noon, until night fell. Troops on the beach and a Navy vessel with powerful searchlights patrolled during the night.

As a chill, grey dawn neared, other searchers in helicopters, boats and on foot and divers prepared to comb again seven miles of beach and out to sea.

Police superintendent George Hill said late last night: “It looks hopeless but he may have been washed ashore in an exhausted state.”

“He could have been hit on the head and be wandering around somewhere or lying in the scrub.”

Another searcher, inspector L. J. Newell, said: “I don’t hold out very much chance for the Prime Minister now.”

Sources in Canberra, the national capital, said deputy prime minister John McEwen, 67, will be sworn in as Prime Minister if the renewed search is unavailing.

LBK Shocked

World leaders, including President Johnson with whom Holt had a special rapport, have expressed shock and gave concern at Holt’s apparent death.

President Johnson personally contacted the United States embassy in Canberra by telephone and instructed he was to be given any positive news at any time of the day or night.

Holt disappeared on a beach notorious for its fickleness — the ocean beach, called the “Back Beach” at Port Sea, is 60 miles from Melbourne.