THE NORTH POLE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 23 May 1925, Page 7

THE NORTH POLE

AMUNDSEN'S FLIGHT

ARRIVAL REPORTED

DETAILS OF, IHE STAB3J,

(UNITED MESS ASSOCIATION—COPTRMHT.f •AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION. Jl(Received 23rd May, 10 a.m.) „,.'.. LONDON, 22nd May, An unconfirmed report, received atOslo from King's Bay, states that Amundsen has reached the Pole. : A copyright message from King's Bay states that before the start of "AmundI sen's aeroplanes for the polar flight on Thursday th? sun was shining brightly in the morning, so -without waiting for ; the meteorologists all instinctively realised that the great day had arrived, me airmen gave the last -touches to the aeroplanes, but there was not much to do beyond bringing the last-few personal belongings on board. . The meteorologists continued to receive weather reports from all stations, ■ while a multitude of coloured observation balloons showed the direction of the wind. j-Tho mechanics received orders to start thf» engines on a trial run at 2 o'clock. I At 4 o clock the entire population of King s Bay—3oo people—assembled to witness the start. The meteorologists continued to forecast good weather, with perhaps a slight head wind. ' Reports from Alaska indicate that a wind-is' forming which, if the stay at the 'Poleis prolonged, will give the airmen a following wind for their return, which will be advantageous in view of. the petrol supply, ■ * ■ ■ • :-■■ IDEAL' CONDITIONS

A representative of Captain Amundsen sent a wireless message from King's Bay, Spitsbergen, saying that'after'the recent bad weather the decision to stars surprised everybody except the mcteorologiste. Nobody expected the start before the end o£ the month. As 'a. matter of fact, the start took place at Sils. yesterday afternoon. The weather,.during the last three days has. steadily, improved. Journalists were requested not to announce the departure until. the aeroplanes were well away, so that when this appears in print Amundsen and.his five comrades will-probably have landed at the North Pole, and.be eh-' faged in making observations, or peraps already returning. Ideal conditions favoured the start on-the fjord ice, which is smooth, with an adequat-3 layer of new snow. There were tense moments, as the motors h,-id not been started for the last few days. ■ The aeroplanes shot forward : over the snow and disappeared in the snowy lijaze, whilst the rush of air nearly bowled over tho assembled crowd:;.' Prior; to the start Captain Amundsen said: "Fourteen years ago I reached theSonih Pole on foot, driving a dog sledge before me. Is it not natural that to-day, in an aeroplane cockpit, with a 760 horsepower engine, I feel confident of success?"- , .