WRECK OF THE ITALIA

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 247, 19 July 1928, Page 9

WRECK OF THE ITALIA

CONDUCT OF MEMBERS OF CREW PRESS CRITICISMS RESENTED IN ITALY THE DEATH OF PROFESSOR MALMGREN The criticisms of certain newspapers regarding the conduct of some of the crew of the wrecked Italia and urging inquiry into Professor Malmagren’s death, are bitterly resented in Italy. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian I’ress Assn. —United Service.) Rome, July 17. . The newspapers bitterly resent the criticism of certain Scandinavian and other Continental newspapers urging an inquiry into Professor Malmgren's death and practically accusing Zappi and Mariano of leaving Malmgren to die on the ice. The “Tribuna” points out that all three were soldiers under military discipline and received a precise order from General Nobile 'to establish contact with the outside world. The lives of the rest of the party depended on their carrying out this order. When Malmgren’s death w-as certain, the duty of Zappi and Mariano was to go on while their strength lasted. Zappi in like fashion would have had to abandon Mariano in his turn, if he had not been imprisoned on an ice floe. The “Giornale D’ltalia” denounces this “inhuman campaign of vilification. . . We understand and respect the grief of the Swedish nation at the loss of Professor Malmgren, but they should respect Italy’s grief at the loss of the Italia and pride in the smiling heroism of Biagi, the legendary audacity of Sora and the sacrifice of Zappi and Mariano. Their version of their tragic farewell to their comrade must be accepted, as the world accepts the story of Captain Scott.” THE ALLESANDRI PARTY ARE THEY STILL ALIVE? . . • (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) Moscow, July 17. Dr. Behounek. the Czech professor, who was rescued from the Italia, says that after the gondola was detached he saw smoke, but. heard no explosion. Personally, he was convinced that the members of the Allesandri party arc still alive. FRAGMENTS FOUND IN BEAR'S STOMACH (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) Rome, July 17. The “Tribuna's” correspondent narrates that after the Italia crash the Nobile party cut up a bear which Malmgren shot, and were astonished to find in its stomach fragments of newspaper printed in Italian and bits of material which had evidently been torn off the Italia's envelope. TRACKS ON BEAR ISLAND SUGGESTED CONNECTION WITH AMUNDSEN (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) Oslo, July 17. A party of fishermen told the Admiralty that they discovered on the Bear Island plateau two wheel tracks over eighty feet of snow leading to a cliff above the sea, and on the edge of the cliff they found a piece of fur coat, a fur cap. and fragments of wood. The Admiralty is investigating whether these arc connected with Amundsen.