OVER THE TOP.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1928, Page 7

OVER THE TOP.

NORTH POLE FLIGHT.

Cross Roads Over The Roof Of The World.

CAPT. WILKINS' ACHIEVEMENT

(Australian Press Assn.—United Service.)

(Received 10 a.m.)

VANCOUVER, April 22.

Dispatches from Detroit state that in a wireless message to the "Detroit News" from Svalhard (Spitzbergen), Captain G. H. Wilkins, the Australian explorer and aviator, who is accompanied by Lieutenant Eielson, announced that he had reached Spitzbergen. The flight, with one stop, occupied five days, and the actual flying time was 20 i hours. Bad weather was experienced. A telegram from Seattle says the reported arrival of Captain Wilkins near Svalbard caused surprise in the former city, "because, although the 'plane carried a wireless plant, complete silence had enveloped the activities of the expedition from the time it was expected to leave Point Barrow." All the comment in New York is unanimous that Captain Wilkins' flight is epochal. Official and aviation circles in the United States have joined in congratulating the aviator and in hailing his persistence and courage as making him one of the outstanding figures in exploration and aviation to-day. The Secretary of State, Mr. F. B. Kellogg, cabled to Captain Wilkins and Lieutenant Eielson his heartiest congratulations on their splendid flight, saying it was a wonderful accomplishment.

"The dream of ages, a north-west passage across the world, has been brought nearer practical achievement through the pioneering 01 r 'aptain Wilkins," Captain Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the explorer, said, picturing the Pole as the cross-roads where future continent to continent caravans would meet, shortening distances by hundreds of miles. Captain Stefaus=cn expressed his delight at the success of the flifrht. He said Captain Wilkins was the best man he had in his Canadian Arctic expeditions of 1913 to 1918. He also referred to Lieutenant-General Sir John Monash's statement that Captain Wilkins was the bravest and the ablest man he had had with him in the war when he commanded the Australians.

"The Wilkins flight will mean much to meteorology," said Mr. A. M. Smith, of the 1927 expedition, who added:

"Captain Wilkins was not interested in a stunt flight. He set out to make a dr .nite contribution to science."

A radiogram from Captain Wilkins states that no land was discovered on his flight.

The Highest Praise.

Commander Richard Byrd, who was the first man to fly across the North Pole, says he has nothing but admiration for Captain Wilkins' persistence in the face of discouragement. His flight was of great scientific value. His navigation was worthy of the highest praise. He congratulated him most heartily.

Commander Douglas Jeffrey, wln\ with Captain Wilkins, accompanied thi? Shackleton expedition, said he felt be would pull through. He was a resourceful sort of fellow.

According to information available here, Captain Wilkins intended that if the Spitzbergen flight were successful he would leave next September for an Antarctic expedition, flying a seaplane eastward from the Ross Sea to Grahams .Land, about 3000 miles south of Cape Horn, his purpose being the establishment of twelve Antarctic meteorological stations for forecasting weather conditions in the inhabited regions of the globe years in advance. Observations would be taken over one sunspot cycle of eleven years.

He said that the economic value of such forecasts would be immense. It would eliminate sufferings from famine and droughts and would prevent food speculation on a large scale. It is known that one of Captain Wilkins' aspirations is the circumnavigation of the Pacific basis in a series of 2000-mile hops over a distance of 16,000 miles with stops at Los Angeles, Seattle, Unalaska, Tokyo, Australia, New Zealand, the Ross Sea, Grahams Land and Cape Horn.

It is interesting to note that the American Georgranhical Society received a message from Captain Wilkins saying no "fixes" had been seen. This was a code arrangement by means of which the explorer indicated that he had seen no land in the Polar region.

LITTLE FOOD LEFT.

SIGHTED BY WHALE FISHERS. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 12 noon.) COPENHAGEN, April 22. When Captain Wilkins was compelled to land at Dauholen he had little food, but fortunately whale fishers sighted ths machine and the flyers on an island and went to their aid in a boat. They were astounded to learn that they had flown from Alaska.

The airmen replenished their food supply when thev reached Green Island. The temperature was several degrees below zero and they said they were tremendously hungry.

Captain Wilkins hopes to complete tht 3 flight to the European mainland at once provided the machine will permit it. The 'plane is understood to be in good condition according to radio messages from Green Harbour. Everywhere the feat is regarded as of the greatest importance, as it will enable geographers to fill in the maps of the Arctic Circle, the great white space between the North of Canada and the North of Siberia.

Captain G. H. Wilkins and his pilot, Lieutenant Eielson, landed at Point Barrow on March 19, and after making preparatory flights there they left for Svalbard (Spitsbergen). No wireless messages were received after their departure, and for some days much anxiety was felt for them. Captain Wilkins has made two previous attempts to conquer the Arctic region. He was born in South Australia in 1888, and in 1912-13 was a correspondent a the Balkan War.