AMUNDSEN’S-FLIGHT

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 May 1925, Page 5

AMUNDSEN’S-FLIGHT

’ SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES. *THE START "DELAYED. i'f ■ g ' ■■Hi(Australian and N,Z. Cable. Association.) \; * J • / , ; LONDON,, May 7.; A wireless from the Fram on .the evening of' M,ay 6, which was delayed owing to atmospheric disturbances states : The Fram and Hobby arrived on the. north coast of Spitsbergen on Wednesday morning, he have since patrolled the coast line io find the best starting• point, but it 'appears ,im. possible to find level fjord ice for a start, as the edge ice ?» packed. After •failing to enter; Kpbbe. Bay, Wellman s Bay, or to force the ice north of Am. sterdam Island, the vessels entered the south channel between Danes Island and the mainland of Spitzbergen, where there is a long stretch of sheltered, open water: Captain Amundsen has been advised of this. Probably a start will be made from > the South Channel, where the planes will be fuelled alongside the Hobby, The conditions are not good, as northerly winds are sweeping the drift ice souths wards. Drift ice from King’s Bay lies northwards in a curve to Amsterdam Island, three quarters of a mile from the shore. There is also, sludge ice in the fjords, but it is not heavy enough to prevent the manoeuvring of th e ships, or to prevent the starting or landing of the planes. It is hopeless to 1 attempt td force the ice northwards or eastwards of Amsterdam Island. After the Fram and the Hobby left King's Bay, We expected to hear the planes were ready to start, but, under it was discovered that a new carburetter was necessary. To-day the Fram is without news when the planes will be arriving. The tempera ture fell from minus 13 to 15 centigrade. The visibility is bad owing to winds from the Polar basin sweeping cold air southwards towards the farmer open.se.i. There are clouds over.the northern coast of-'Spitzbergen. but it is clear inland over the ice. The low pressure over Labrador is not expect; ej to affect the flying during, the first fortnight 1 after the start, when the airmen mav be expected back. Tire Fram and the Hobby are lemainiiig to. gether in the fairway of Danes Island. If the visibility becomes worse the Hobby will proceed oast, bpt no ( t bevoiid Verlegenhook. If the planes do not return .after fourteen days, .the Hobby will proceed eastward, if, possible, to the North Cape, and patrol as '.near to the edge i ice as possible. The ships will await the airmen for stx weeks after they start. The Fram will be at King's B ly from May 16 to May 19 for boiler cleaning, when mem. bers of the expedition desiring to can .'accompany the Fram in order t,o re turn home. . The vessels, late on -Wednesday, evening, moored at the edge of the ice in the South Channel, and as, jthe weather wa,s plqndy with .drifting snow, the meteorologists.’ .telegr'; l plied ,C.apitain Amundsen, |advising I,l'im not to ‘start on Thursday. Hageriip and Ilor. jgon, after observations, have recomhn,ended the. South Channel as ,the 'starting place. , ' . , A further message from Captain Amundsen’s expedition (fit Spitsbergen, sent on Thursday, stated:- —“The weather is good, and flying presets are unchanged. \There are low clouds, with a snow storm driving before a ,noj(h wind. If there is no alteration 'during the day, tl’b mieteorologrists will, advise Captain Amundsen not to start till Friday.