ARCTIC ADVENTURE

Evening Post, Issue 149, 20 December 1935, Page 8

ARCTIC ADVENTURE

LINCOLN ELLSWORTH

A FLIGHT WITH AMUNDSEN

PERIL ON THE ICE

(By "Scxtus.") If Lincoln Ellsworth escapes from the danger he faces in the Antarctic, where his aeroplane appears to have crashed, he will be the one man alive who has suffered aerial mishap in both polar zones and returned to safety. The wealthy American, who left Dundee Island last month to fly his1 machine the Polar Star to the Bay of Whales, crashed in the Arctic just over ten years ago. On that occasion, \ too, he was missing for a long period, finally returning twenty-five days after the last messages had been received about him and bringing with him a tale of adventure. On that occasion J Mr. Ellsworth financed an Arctic flight which had as one of its members the noted explorer Roald Amundsen, who perished three years later in the effort to find the missing Italian General Nobile. There were six J members of the party, and two flyingboats were used, the plan being to provide insurance against the unknown | factors by making it possible for the j whole party to return in one of the machines. Amundsen, who had been the first explorer to reach the South Pole in 1911, was the observer in one of the 'planes, N25; Ellsworth was observer on the other which had been christened N24, On each machine there was a mechanic. THE FLIGHT BEGINS. The flight began on May 21, 1925, from King's Bay, Spitzbergen, and it was June 15 before the machines were heard of again. Amundsen had arranged to return from the expedition on the following day after setting out, and when days passed into weeks and the explorers failed to come back the world, convinced of misfortune, began to organise relief parties. Amundsen had determined that the two machines, neither of which carried a radio set, should keep together as far as possible, and this they , did. After almost twelve hours' flying north of King's Bay the aviators reached 88 degrees north, which is less than 120 miles from the Pole, and at about 5 a.m. the mechanic of N25 reported that half the petrol of the machine had gone. ' With the need to conserve the rest of the petrol for the return flight, it became necessary to search for a landing place, and the difficulties which confronted the fliers have been described by Amundsen in his book "My Polar Flight." "As far as the,eye could see," he wrote, "the ice looked like a number of furrows stretched out without rhyme or reason, and between the furrows the ice rose like a high stone fence." A FORCED RISK. Riiser-Larsen, the pilot ■of the machine, was an aviator of considerable experience; he knew the risk of descending on to any waterway because of the possibility of the ice closing in and crushing the machine. So he turned about in wide spirals, searching for a suitable spot and finding none, when suddenly one of the 'plane's two engines began" missing. With a machine of that weight, carry ■; ing passengers, equipment, and fuel! this'meant landing without delay, and Riiser-Larsen was forced to take the risk he had sought to avoid; Picking out a narrow waterway between high banks of ice, he set down the machine neatly, but before the flying boat had come to rest . the ice /banks had closed in, leaving only a few feet of space between wing and bank. When the machine stopped, to make matters worse, her nose was close to an iceberg which blocked the waterway. I There was no time to be lost. The machine had to be turned about for the return journey. Provisions and equipment were taken from the 'plane to lighten the ship and were stacked on firm ice. But slush and small ice filled the fairway and clung to the flying boat, and she lay in it firmly fixed.. With the risk of the ice screwing up there was the likelihood that it would crush the machine, leaving the aviators marooned hundreds of miles from safety. There was, it appeared, only one thing to do, and that was to lift the machine on to the iceberg, and the three men in the crew, using knives, an axe, and an iceanchor, set to work to cut down the ice to a grade which would make it possible to haul up their ship. ABANDONED 'PLANE. In. the meantime Ellsworth, in N24. had seen his companions descend, and had set down his own 'plane. But after the landing it sprung a leak which was so serious that when a counsel of war was held it was determined to abandon it and concentrate on the hauling of N25 out of the position of danger in which she lay. It was an enormous undertaking. The flying boat had not only to be taken out of the water, but hauled to the j top of an incline which had- to be made by hacking away the impeding ice, and after that a track twelve yards wide and 500 yards long had to be smoothed on an icefloe to act as a runway so that the machine might have sufficient speed to rise above the ice. The ice itself lay under three feet of snow, and the six men had only two shovels amongst them to clear away this impediment. When they had exposed the ice it was found that there were bad cracks which had, in turn, to be filled with other ice. Day after weary day they toiled at this task until all were exhausted, and it appeared as if their physical resources were not great enough to accomplish the feat of giving the N25 the firm surface she needed to start on the flight which would bear them back to safety. With the necessity, however, came inspiration. Viewing the unsatisfactory nature of their achievement so far. Lieutenant Dietrichson, the second pilot, suddenly thought of another way in which to create the needed track.This was to use the impeding snow, to employ the frost as an ally. Under Dietrichson's direction the men began -to tramp snow down over the desired track. After that they waited for the frost .to do .its work, and on June 14 it seemed that all might be ready. Two attempts were made to take the N25 into the air; but each time it was found that the snow; had not frozen hard enough and the machine did not gather sufficient speed to rise. The next morning, however, it was found that the hard frost of the night had solidified the snow so much more that there was every hope of the foundation being firm enough for the machine to take off. Nearly all equipment was discarded. The men kept only a few stores and a minimum quantity of petrol. The men took their places in the flying-boat, it raced down the track gathering momentum, and then, amidst the cheers of all on board, it soared above the ice and, with a wide sweep, was headed back towards King's Bay. The 550-mile return flight passed without much incident, and though at one stage the aviators had to accept a tow from a Norwegian sealer, and, just as plans were being formulated to search for the explorers, they returned to safety more than three week's overdue.

MR. BALDWIN'S SPEECH. The* Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, followed. He said that so far as hewas concerned the Government stood where it always had stood. As to the, Paris .proposals, the Government was perfectly content to leave them entirely for the ' decision. of the League. For the rest the Government had played its part in- setting the formidable machinery, of the League to work: It had made preparations to fulfil in letter and spirit whatever might be demanded of it under the Covenant in all and every circumstance. "We have not been behind-hand, and at this moment we are prepared collectively to fulfil bur part in every way," he said. Mr. Baldwin' quoted fromi the Government's election manifesto the statement that the League would remain the keystone of British foreign policy and similar passages from his own speeches. ' Mr. Baldwin promised ,to describe his own part in, the affair with perfect frankness. "It is no easy matter for a man when he does not feel complete satisfaction with it," he said. He had not only kept his promise,' but had treated himself without mercy. Referring to the decision to support Sir Samuel Hoare, despite his dissatisfaction with the peace.plan, he said: "I can quite see, looking back, that I should have fetched Sir Samuel Hoare back from Switzerland. You may say it was an act of weakness not to do so. It certainly was an error of judgment. .-..-. ■ LESSON TO BE DRAWN. "I think there is a lesson to be drawn, largely owing to the League practice -that has grown up since the war, for Ministers to have discussions on the Continent and sometimes reach conclusions when there is real difficulty 'in maintaining that liaison which should be maintained with Cabinet.- Before this method became common we relied upon what was called diplomatic procedure. This resulted in far more careful examination of details from the beginning of negotiations than has often been possible under the new system. Speed is often a matter of great danger. It is quite conceivable.in,some similar situation that so.long as this practice of telegraphing from one capital to another with the expectation of a reply the same night obtains there may be some irremediable disaster. "I am determined that such a position shall be impossible again," he said. "The maintenance of liaison, even if It entails delays, is essential." CONSCIENCE AND HONOUR. Dealing with the resentment the plan had evoked, he said that, having felt that the proposals went too far, he was not surprised at. the expressions of feeling. , "Nevertheless, I was not expecting that deeper feeling manifested by many of my friends and in many parts of the country on what I call the ground of conscience and honour. At the moment lam confronted with . that I know something has happened that has affected the deepest feelings of our countrymen. Some note has been struck that brings back from them a response from the depths. If a storm arises when I know I am right I will let it break on me and I will either survive it or.l will break. If I feel.after examination of myself that in that stoi-m there is something to show me I have done something that is not right, then I will bow to it." "MY RESPONSIBILITY." The loss of Sir Samuel Hoare at the present time was a grave loss to the Government. It was perfectly obvious now that the proposals were absolutely and completely dead and that the Government would not make an attempt to resurrect them. It stood where it had always stood. Its policy was based on the League, but if by adherence to the League they found themselves standing alone to do what ought to be done by everybody the country would say, "This is the last time we will allow the Government to commit us to collective security." •He dreaded the reaction if the country had to partake in a unilateral war, even for a short while, before\ others could join. The nations would have to consider these things at the end of the ItaloAbyssihian" war. Reverting to Sir .Samuel'Hoare Mr. Baldwin said, "The chief responsibility, was mine. I decided j must support my absent colleague. Whether that was wise or otherwise is another matter." BURDEN ON BRITAIN. Sir Austen Cnamberlain said he thought tllere was an admission by the Prime Minister that the Paris proposals were such as ought not to have been put forward by Britain. In saying that, he did not accept the idea that to negotiate for a settlement implied disloyalty to the League. If peace could be secured earlier by negotiation it was not merely permissible under the Covenant;, it was their duty to pursue negotiations. He believed that in the present case a much heavier burden had been put upon Britain than was compatible with the successful working of collective security. He regretted it because it had given colour to a pernicious, allegation in the Italian Press that there was an issue as between Great Britain and Italy.

Britain was prepared to play its part. 35 one -pi tag. instruments, but

it must not be expected to take so prominent and so solitary a part as . to make it appear that this was really its quarrel, when in fact it was only discharging a covenanted obligation. The Prime Minister had given the pledge of the Government to go to the full length and ,take a full share in an effective system of collective security when others were prepared to take their proportionate part, and thus make not only the judgments collective but their execution equally so. Britain alone of the great Powers, with danger approaching, had taken any steps to meet it. That was not collective. Perhaps it might be as well for the League in the end that the blunder which had been made had led to a question like that being clearly stated and the limits of British action being clearly laid down. . "NOTHING BY OURSELVES." "All with all, nothing by ourselves," said Sir Austen. "These are, I believe, true League lines. If others will be as faithful to these principles and work upon them as much as we have, the League will emerge strengthened, and aggression will be made more difficult for the future." Sir Austen said that when Major Attlee had pointed at Mr. Baldwia and had said, "It is your honour, that is at stake," he had made:it certain that not a single supporter of the Government would abstain from voting. "Whatever differences there are among us," he said, "this is. a challenge which every Nationalist will resist." (Loud cheers.) CONSERVATIVE AMENDMENT. Lord Winterton (Con.) moved: ' .. That this House, holding that any : terms for the settling of the Italo,Abyssinian dispute, should be such as the League can ace'ept, assures his Majesty's Government of ' its full support in pursuing foreign policy as outlined .in., the Government's manifesto and endorsed by1 the country at the recent General Election. Lord Winterton said that public opinion in six months had driven two Foreign Secretaries from office. That showed the strength,. but not necessarily the wisdom, of democracy. The British people, had got themselves into an atmosphere of false perspective. Japan was moving in North China, Germany was re-arming, Russia was perfecting her armaments, and the Balkan States made no secret that the moment there was war anywhere they would be over one another's frontiers. Many people treated that'situation with unbelievable levity. He challenged anybody in the House to say they were prepared to advocate action leading to military resistance against Italy. Sir Stafford. Cripps (Ind. Lab.) said Lord Winterton wanted to be able to bark at Signor Mussolini and not fight him. Mr. Baldwin's "reputation for blunt honesty had been completely shattered. He could not extricate himself by throwing Sir Samuel Hoare to the wolves. British foreign policy was Imperialistic and the peace, plan was Imperialistic. There had never before been such an episode of double dealing and deceit in British foreign policy. Mr. J. Maxton (Ind. Lab.) said that the League was a fraud and an imposture. The only way to safety for the working people was to overthrow Capitalist .exploiters in their own lands. '.'.-- Mr. G. Nicholson (Con.) said he did not think the proposals terribly unreasonable, but'the procedure had given the impression that the Government was going behind the League in order to present it with an accomplished fact. Colonel Wedgwood, (Lab.) said that any doubt about our keeping Alexandria was not due to fleets but to new' air forces. . Mr. Hugh Dalton, in winding up for the Opposition, said that Italy had been left out in the distribution of the war spoils, and would have a case in equity if she had kept the peace, but equity could not be claimed. Signor Mussolini was coming to court with his hands dripping with a mixture of Abyssinian blood and British oil. (Opposition cheers and Ministerial cries of "No.") AN UNFAIR SUGGESTION. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, in winding up for the Government* said: "We are asked why we tolerate the resignation of Sir Samuel Hoare and do not resign ourselves. Sir Samuel Hoare has given the answer when he said he felt he could no longer exert influence and authority in the councils of the world. It is unfair to suggest that the Government is trying to shelter, behind him. The Premier has hot attempted to deny that his .and our decision was - a mistake. For myself, I cannot say that in similar circumstances I would not again commit that mistake." , Referring to a suggestion that Mr. Baldwin gave an inaccurate account of the Paris talks, Mr. Chamberlain warmly replied: "It is no use any member of the Opposition trying to convince either the House or the country that the Premier deliberately attempted to deceive them. (Loud cheers.) Cabinet naturally knew of the experts' discussions, but did not know the actual terms of the proposals until Monday. We could not have rejected the terms without the world knowing we had thrown over the Foreign Secretary." Lord Winterton's amendment was carried by 397 * votes to 165 and the . substantive motion was then, carried by, 390 votes-to. 165.