OVER THE POLE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18634, 8 March 1926, Page 9

OVER THE POLE.

1 A PROPOSED FLIGHT. (TOOM OTo OWN CORRESPONDENT.) SAN FRANCISCO, December 30. After partially recovering from the reoent air service scandal coincident with the court-martial proceedings in the Colonel Mitchell controversy, Americans have learned with extreme interest of. the latest mooted attempt to reach the North pole by the medium of the aeroplane, and plans as darby men to conquer the Arctic, have by men to conqtire the Arctic, have been outlined in New York by Vilhjalraur Stefansson in confirming reports that a non-stop flight is to be attempted next spring from Point Barrow; Alaska, over the top of the world to Spitzber. gem The aviators will go into the Arctic carrying no provisions to rely upon an case of a forced landing, and should disaster befall them they will depend on their rifles for food and will walk to the nearest point of land. Instead of attempting to fly over the mathematical North Pole, they will aim for the inaccessible Pole, 400.miles from the centre of the North Pole and believ. Ed to be the centre of a huge icefield. If land be discovered there, Stefansson predicted it would become a way-station for traußpolar flyers, much as the Hawaiian Islands are to tho Pacific, and of use in "abolishing the Arctic," "I think the Arctic has been a barrier be- j tween the continents long enough," the renowned explorer said. "When anyone first crosses the Arctic, most of the anticipated terrors will bo found 'to be imaginary and individuals and jiations will begin to make use of the Arctic £s the shortest route behveen many of the important centres of population." Should land be sighted at the inacces. sible Pole, the flyers will circle "it and immediately return to Point Bartow to report it, Stefansson said. If no land is, found, they will continue to Spitz, bergen. : Captain George H. Wilkins, World War aviator, explorer and Stefansson's chief aide in two expeditions, will be the actual head of the flight. The flight is to cost between 100,000 dollars, and 150,000 dollars, ahd is being backed by the Detroit Aviation Society, of which Henry Ford is a member and his chief engineer, W, B. Mayo, is president. The American Geographical Society and Captain Wilkins, pers Mially, also will be backers*. From two to four plapes are being considered to make tho flight, Stefansson said. The entire routo will be about 1900 miles, and the aeroplanes will be equipped | for a non-stop flight of well over 2,000 miles. It was later announced that Captain Wilkins will take less than a picnic "snack" along with him on his aeroplane dash to the North Pole—a vacuum bottle of hot coffee and a few sandwiches. "Captain Wilkins and I agree that a heavy load of provisions is not the equipment for an aeroplane flight to the Pole," said Stefansson. "All the ton. nagejs needed for fuel. However, ho will take a seven and one-half-pound rifle, and 300 rounds of ammunition. If he has to come down, that will provide him with food. Explorers familiar with the Arctic estimate a round of field ammunition good for 1000 pounds of meat."