WRECKED AIRSHIP’S CREW

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 221, 19 June 1928, Page 9

WRECKED AIRSHIP’S CREW

BAD WEATHER STILL DELAYING RELIEF BIG RISKS FACED BY RESCUING AIRMEN EOG RENDERS FLIGHTS RESULTLFSS Heavy fog is delaying the efforts to send relief to the crew of the wrecked airship Italia. Captain Larsen and Lieutenant Holm carried out flights, but the visibility was poor and the search was resultless. The relief ship Braganza has rounded North Cape, having forced her way through the ice, and will act as the base of an expedition to be landed as soon as the fog has lifted. United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.

(United Service.) London, June 17. A message from King's Bay, Spitzbergen, says that the relief ship Braganza has rounded dread Cape North, laboriously forcing her way through ice. She will remain indefinitely in this position as the base of a larger expendition, which will be landed as soon as the fog has lifted. The Hobby is close behind, and will probably return to King's Bay for supplies and equipment. The fog is exasperatingly thick, and is preventing Captain Larsen and Lieutenant Holm from starting on their flight to rescue the three men who are adrift on an ice floe. There is no possibility of sending out the equipment General Nobile asked for last week until the arrival of the airman Maddalena, who is expected at King’s Bay at 2.30 p.m. It is considered that the Italian airmen going to the rescue of the Italia’s crew have big risks to face. There will be at least a 600 miles non-stop flight in heavy aeroplanes, and considerable risk will be met with when they attempt a landing. It is considered that the Russian icebreaker now eu route will penetrate farthest towards the castaways. Although the condition of the castaways is at present unknown, their relief by aeroplane and steamers is progressing splendidly. Jladdalena’s seaplane almost reached Bear -Island in his second attempt, but was forced back by fog. He will make another attempt from Spitzbergen to-morrow. A Swedish seaplane has arrived at Narvik, and a Finnish Junkers seaplane has reached Tromso. Guildbaud’s seaplane arrived at Bergen and picked up' Captain Amundsen. The Braganza’ has sent a wireless message saying that she is now about six miles eastward of Cape North, and that the Hobby is near by. A heavy

snowfall and a fog on .Saturday prevented a flight from the ship. Conditions are still bad. A message from Rome says that Commander Sansonetti, of the Ministry of Marine, in an audience with journalists, said that Italy had no illussions sis'to the gravity of the disaster, but that the organisation of relief was a question of time. The Hobby and Braganza look like penetrating beyond the usual Arctic limits. FLIGHTS BY LARSEN AND HOLM fit, . (Australian Frees Assn.—United service.) London, June 17. A message from King's Bay says that Captain Larsen and Lieut. Holm carried out flights, but visibility was poor and the search for the Italia's castaways was-resultless. Oslo, June 17. Captain Guilbaud, who is piloting, and Amundsen and Dietrichson have departed from Bergen for Spitzbergen. SOS FROM NOBILE ARMS WANTED TO KEEP BEARS OFF (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (Rec. June IS, 10.40.) Copenhagen, June IS Advices received by the Stockholm newspaper, “Lagens Nyheter” states that General Nobile sent out an SOS stating that a violent storm was raging ,and asking for arms and ammunition to keep off bears.