THE MISSING EXPLORERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 135, 10 June 1925, Page 7

THE MISSING EXPLORERS.

search parties from u.s.a. the McMillan expedition. LONDON, June 9. An official message from Oslo states that the meteorological and aviation representatives of Norway who have been to Spitzbergen in connection with Captain Roald Amundsen's flight have given up hope that the six airmen will return from the Pole by aeroplane. All the officials hnve now returned to Bergen.

A message from Washington reports that the Secretary to the Navy, Mr. Curtis Wilbur, states that his department is not going to "start on a wildgoose chase into the Arctic." Mr. Wilbur's statement is in reply to an appeal from the Norwegian Aero Club circulated through the North American newspaper Alliance, that the dirigible Los Angeles or the Shenandoah should attempt to find Amundsen.

Mr. Wilbur said there were too many practical difficulties. The Arctic temperature would cause rain and snow to freeze in layers on the envelope of an airship. This extra weight might compel the dirigible to descend. The temperature might, furthermore, stiffen the lubricating oil in the engines. Mr. Wilbur indicated that the three naval amphibian aeroplanes to be attached to the McMillan expedition which is to sail from Boston on Wednesday, would endeavour to find the Amundsen party.—(A. and N.Z. Cable).

It was planned for Captain Donald B. McMillan to leave for the Arctic to explore the area west of Greenland, on June 17. Two vessels will be under his command. The expedition will also have three aeroplanes. "We believe that there is a vast unexplored continent, possibly 1,000,000 square miles in area, west of Northern Greenland," said Captain McMillan. On his return Captain McMillan will explore Labrador for Norse ruins, which have been reported by Eskimos. The United States Navy is" sending eight men, and the National Geographical Society live scientists on the Arctic expedition. Captain McMillan, who is 50 years of age, was assistant in the Peary Arctic Club North Polar expedition of 190S-9; member of the Cabot Labrador party in 1910; leader of the Crocker Land expedition of 1913-17; and commander of the Baffin Land expedition in 1920. In addition, he spent 1911 and 1912 in ethnological work among the Labrador Eskimos. Daily reports giving the progress of Captain McMillan's expedition will be sent by wireless to the American Fleet during its forthcoming visit to these waters. The expedition will sail to Axel Heibery Land, and from a northern point in this territory flights will be made. If new land is discovered it will be useful for establishing flight bases on the northern route to Asia and Australia.