Tragedy of the Arctic

Evening Star, Issue 19891, 13 June 1928, Page 9

Tragedy of the Arctic

Sufferings of Italia’s Crew

One Dead, Two Dying

Others in Gravest Peril

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

One of the crew is dead, two others with broken legs are dying, while three more are sstruggling ill-clad and foodless towards North-efast Land kneed eep in slush, and are doomed. The remainder of the expedition, in two groups, roughly sixteen miles apart, are in direst straits.

RESCUE DIFFICULTIES LONDON, June 11. The above is the purport of fragmentary wireless messages from various sources to-day. 111-luck in the shape of crashes and lack of suitable equipment is hampering the efforts of daring airmen to reach the castaways, whoso unstable sanctuary is liable to engulf them at any moment. Commander Maddalelan’s seaplane crashed into a motor boat alter refuelling at Ouchy, and damaged a wing, which it will take ten days to repair. Holm’s ’plane, which is based at least 125 miles from the castaways, has a maximum range of 540 miles, and is capable of carrying a heavy load of foodstuffs Later it was reported that a heavy fog and a shortage of fuel forced Lieutenant Holm down, and the Braganza will have to rescue him. THE MISHAP TO THE ITALIA CAUGHT \W A BUZZARD SHIP GETS OUT OF CONTROL. LONDON, Juno 11. Jt is now established that General Nobile, at the critical moment when he found that the Italia was weighted down by a coaling of ice and that the sides were torn by fragments flung by the propellers and that it was impossible to make King's Bay against the blizzard, decided to anchor, but the Italia became unmanageable forward. The control oar, carrying General Nobile and six of the crow, came into violent impact with the ice, the pneumatic buffers alone saving the occupants from instant death. General Nobile refused to disclose the names of the injured or of the man who subsequently died. The result of the_ first crash was that, relieved of the weight of the gondola, the airship rose, drifted away, and touched tho ice again thirty kilos distant, when seven men jumped clear. Further on still three more dropped on to the ice. Then, according to one message, the airship, thus lightened, drifted westward into tho unknown. — United Service. MESSAGE FROM COMMANDER HIS PARTY IH GRAVE PERIL LONDON, June 11. (Received Juno 13, at 1.13 a.m.) General Nobile wirelessed that ho is not aware of tho whereabouts of the members of tho crow who were carried off as a result of tho Italia’s mishap. At present he and his party are stranded on the park ico in view of the coast, minus arms, cooking utensils, and snow shoes. Two of his companions are suffering acutely. Each has a leg broken.—Australian Press Association. SUFFERING FROM FROSTBITE LONDON, June 11. The latest con fused wireless message From the Italia suggests that most of tho victuals and equipment were lost when she crashed. Everyone is frostbitten on the hands and feet.—Australian Press Association. AMUNDSEN'S FEARS OSLO, June 12. Captain Roald Amundsen expresses the opinion that there is little hope of tho survivors trekking tho twenty-five miles to tho, Braganza. The ice is heavily huramocked and _ treacherous, and if help does not arrive in a few days it will he too late.—-Australian Press Association. ITALIAN RELIEF 'PLANE ROME, June 12. The seaplane which is part of the Italian Government’s relief expedition will’leave Paris to-day in an attempt to succour the crow of the Italia. An Air Force officer will man tho seaplane, as it is understood that Sir George "Wilkins was unable to accept the invitation to take over the command. Australian Press Association.

LONDON, June 11