ACROSS THE POLAR SEAS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 91, 14 October 1922, Page 9

ACROSS THE POLAR SEAS

DRIFTING FOB SEVEN TEARS.

As Roald Amundsen in all probability looks upon Spitzbergen as the most likely terminus to his polax flight, the chief of the Norwegian aviation school — First Lieutenant Thellefseu —has gone there in order to make tho necessary preparations, says the Christiania correspondent of the "Christian Science Monitor." A promontory at the- radio station in the vicinity .of Green Harbour will prove an ideal place for landing. Mr. Amundsen will probably be able to communicate with Lieutenant Thellefsen by wireless in, a^i vance, so as to ascertain which will be the best place to land, if Spitzbergen should prove his goal. He may, however, be forced to go as far down a 6 Northern Norway or Northern Russia,, from both of which places ho would have a chance of rapid wireless connection with the outer world. Things would not be so favourable in Northern Siberia, but, in any case, it is light throughout the twentyfour hours at all these places.

Captain Wisting and Dr. Sverdrup will probably.be in charge of the Maud, which vessel, irrespective of tho aeroplane adventure, will allow herself 'to become fast in the ice for her long drift across the Polar Sea : which is. calculated to take from five to seven years. There will be fifteen men, all 'told, on, board the Maud.

It ia a strange coincidence that it was on 11th July, twenty-five years ago, that S. S. Andree and his followers ascended from Spitzbergen in order to reach the North Pole in a specially constructed balloon. Nothing was heard" again of the gallant Swedish engineer and : his followers. The expedition had been arranged for the previous,year. Mr. Ari^Js and his two comrades were at (•SB!* csrgen and everything was apparei ready, when Mr. Andree decided to postpone the venture.

The transfer of Capt. Roald Amundsen, Lieutenant Omdahl,' and "another man" from the Maud, was in accordance with his secret plans, tho president of the Aerial League of America declared last month. The three men were taken from the Maud to the schooner Holmes. "It might have endangered the Maud's chances of advancing through the open leads and the Arctic pack ice to a. point near Wrangel Island," said the president, "if she had had- go go out of her way to Point Barrow with Delay might have caused the> Maud to remain at Point Barrow until next summer." Captain Amundsen now can proceed with his flight without fearing delay to the rest of his expedition, and it was expected that Captain Amundsen would start soon on the flight.