ELLSWORTH SEARCH

Evening Star, Issue 22233, 10 January 1936, Page 7

ELLSWORTH SEARCH

MESSAGE FROM THE DISCOVERY ACROSS THE ANTARCTIC CIRCLE. Press Association —By Telegraph —Copyright SYDNEY, January 9. Mr R. A. Parkhill received a message from Discovery 11. stating that the weather continues fine. The vessel has now crossed the Antarctic Circle and open water is ahead. The aircraft and the Motli engine are being overhauled. The sledge has been tried out, and emergency rations prepared for the Wapiti. HOPEFUL OF SAFETY SIGNALS “ BLANKETED ” BY ICE INVERCARGILL, January 9.' Mr M. E. Wiig, Norwegian Consul at Bluff, states that the absence of radio signals from Lincoln Ellsworth does not necessarily mean tragedy. Mr Wiig’s theory is that the flyers will be found safe in Little America in such a’position that successful transmission of radio messages would be impossibly. He bases his calculation on the experience of the old Sir James Clark Ross in those waters during the 1927-28 whaling season. The position was that the ship was held up in the ice. All about her were immense icebergs, and these, higher than the vessel’s masts, had completely “ blanketed ” her wireless. Mr Wiig is surveyor of shipping in the South Island for Norway. With the assistance of an expert the Consul inspected the radio equipment of the Wyatt Earp at Mr Ellsworth’s invitation. He had a look at the small radio set the explorer was taking with him for use on his flight from the base. “ Remembering the wireless experience of the Sir James Clark Ross, Ellsworth’s silence is readily understandable,” Mr Wiig said. “My own idea is that he, and his companion arc safe in an igloo of their own construction, and will bo found eventually by one of the searching parties. Let us hope relief will not be too long delayed.”