PROPOSED POLAR FLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 98, 21 January 1924, Page 7

PROPOSED POLAR FLIGHT

BY UNITED STATES AIRSHIP ENDORSED BY EXPERTS (Rec. January 20, 11.5 p.m.) Washington, January 18. Mr. B. Denby, Secretary of the Navy, testifying before the House of Representatives Naval Affairs Coniniittee, declared that a vast unexplored area contiguous to Alaska constituted a. constant challenge to the United States, and justified a Polar flight. Another Power will within a year pTl’Ptograph a map of this region if we do not. The Arctic Circle area is certain to be of high strategic value conum?*cially and militarily, and should be tho property of the United States. ZR’l will cruise over a million square miles of unexplored territory. Tlie flight will not be especially hazardous. The cost is estimated at 185.090 dollar:-.

Lieutenant-Commander Bartlett, who accompanied Peary, the discoverer of the North Pole, who also gave bis testimony, recommended tho flight, nnd eu dorsed its practicability. Other naval experts affirmed Zill’s experience in tho gale when she was torn from her mooring masts, which only demonstrated the vessel’s air. wortluness regarding the Polar expedi-tion.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.