FATE OF ITALIA’S CREW

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

FATE OF ITALIA’S CREW

GROWING FEELING OF PESSIMISM EVERY DAY VITAL Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, Juno 12. (Received June 13, at 1.25 p.m.) Tho Italian dying boats, speeding northwards to aid tho Italia, were forced down, owing to lack oi fuel, in Holland. They later reached Amsterdam and took off to-night for Copenhagen, but are not expected to roach Spitsbergen until Friday. There is a growing feeling of pessimism. Captain Amundsen says that every day is vital. Norwegian experts express the opinion that action has been left dangerously late, and that large aeroplanes and ice breakers should have been despatched at a much earlier date. The situation is further endangered by the sudden turn of bad weather north of Spitzborgen. Meantime General Nobile has wirelessed: “ Abandoned intention of trekking to the Hobby. Have returned to wireless post, allowing three companions to proceed alone. The wireless will soon cease as the accumulators are running down.” He added: “Wo are physically exhausted by onr efforts to jeach a point of rescue. The main party consists of seven, who are sheltering _in a tent rescued from the gondola, which is useless. A storm is raging, and threatens to destroy the tent, which is painted red to facilitate observation from the air. There is definitely no news of the whereabouts or fate tf tho other two parties. It is twelve days since tho three men left with tho intention of walking to Cape North to seek aid. Similarly nothing has been heard of the seven who were carried off in tho detached derelict envelope.” All tho messages concern tho main party alone, which is having the greatest hardship during the past four days owing to the absence of the means, of preparing warm meals. Australian Press. SOVIET RESCUE EFFORTS LONDON, June 12. (Received Juno 13, at 1.25 p.m.)

The Riga correspondent of ‘ The Times’ states that the Italian Government haa requested tho Soviet to continue the relief efforts, for which tho world’s most powerful icc-brcakor, the Krassin, has been ordered to King’s Bay, starting on Juno 13. Tho icebreaker Malygin is leaving Archangel to-night, equipped with several months’ provisions, clothing, arms, and a shortwave apparatus.

A seaplane in charge of ! dot Chukhnovsky has loft Murmansk for Hope Island with a. powerful shortwave apparatus.—‘ Times ’ Cable.