PLIGHT TO THE POLE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10137, 17 June 1924, Page 5

PLIGHT TO THE POLE.

AMUNDSEN’S INTENTION.

EXPLORATION OF THE ARCTIC. tPer Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, June 15. The “Daily Chronicle” says that Captain Roald Amundsen has stated that be expects liis flight to the North Pole will begin in the middle of July, when there is most water round the Pole, and end in the middle of August.

All three of the aeroplanes will be fitted with skis, and so will be able to take off from, or land on land, water, ice, or snow.

The flight from Pisa (Italy) to Spitsbergen—2Boo miles—will be an acid test of pilots and material. The aeroplanes’ mother ship, of 400 tons, is now being equipped at Tromso, and will be sent as far north as the ice permits. Starting from the ship, Captain Amundsen proposes that the three aeroplanes loaded to their full capacity with gasolene', shall fly 400 miles, when Captain Amundsen leaves the first ’plane, which gives its surplus fuel to fill the tanks of the other aeroplanes. \ - The second and third aeroplanes will go on another 400 miles, when the second will fill the tanks of the third, which will enable Captain Amundsen to reach Alaska, the other two aeroplanes meanwhile acting as radio stations and keeping the expedition- in touch with the ship and with Spitsbergen. Special messages describing Amundsen’s flight will be despatched by wireless from the aeroplanes to the “Daily Chronicle” during the flight. Lieutenant Davison, of the American Navy, pilots the first ’plane; that contributed by Italy will be commanded by Located, who accompanied d’Annunzio in his flight oyer Vienna during the war.

Haakon Hammer will be responsible for the search for the ships Annie and Teddy to the North-east of Greenland.