CAPTAIN G. H. WILKINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 60, 12 March 1926, Page 7

CAPTAIN G. H. WILKINS.

ACROSS THE POLAR SEA. TO HOP OFF ON MARCH 21. NEW YORK, March 11. A message from Fairbanks, Alaska, states that the Australian explorer. Captain G. H. Wilkins, will start from there on March 21 on his attempt to fly to the North Pole by aeroplane. Captain Wilkins predicts that he 'will be in New York next month after having flown across the Arctic -wastes from Point Barrow, Alaska, to Spitzbergen. — (A. and N.Z.) *

The airplane thrust across the Polar sea, which Captain George H. Wilkins will command for the American GeograpMcal Society, the Detroit Aviation Society and the North American Newspaper Alliance, will hop off from Point Barrow on March. 21.

The date has been fixed in relation to certain known elements of fog conditions, wind and weather.

"When we start northward from Point Barrow," Captain Wilkins said, "our flight will be made with the understanding that if our plane fails to reach Spitsbergen or return to Point Barrow, no rescue expedition will be sent out for at least two Tears."

It is possible, according to the plans outlined, that Captain Wilkins and Ms pilot will land after they reach, the peak of the globe and -will then drift with the polar ice. Living "off the land," Captain Wilkins expects to have no difficulty in killing enough seals to sustain life.

'"My -first goal is the ice pole," said Captain Wilkins, "but many geographers believe that if I fly northward along the 156 th meridian I will discover land on the way. As soon as I sight any land I will drop an American flag on it, claim it for the United States, photograph it from the air and return to Point Barrow."

"On the following day, in company with tot other plane, I •will return to the land. One of the planes will land if possible, and establish a base there for purposes of exploration and mapping.

"In case we strike formidable head winds which exhaust our fuel supply after crossing the mathematical pole we shall land on the ice and later get to Spitzbergen the best way we can. The observations of many explorers make mc feel certain that we shall drift toward JSpitzbergien. Favourable winds may come within a few days; they may not come for a year. What matter? We can live on the ice indefinitely."

Captain Wilkins' statements show that in the event of any sort of a forced landing he will endeavour to cope with the Arctic with little more equipment than a rifle, navigation instruments and a primus stove.

He has practiced three methods of killing seals on the Polar sea—beneath the ice, on the ice and in the open sea. He believes that seals will be found as far north as the very top of the earth. Their flesh, he says, will supply food; their hides will supply material for boat 3 and clothing and their blubber will supply fuel.

"In the event of finding land," Wilkins explained, "this fact need not halt our plans for a transpolar flight. "Land in the Arctic sea may mean that we can establish a flying base much nearer Spitzbergen than Point. Barrow. If we are able to do this, we shall make a new hop-off arrangement." "Amundsen and Ellsworth flew in June and found the temperature above zero. We expect to find a temperature at Point Barrow of 40 below zero. This difference, no doubt, will affect the performance of our planes."