FLIGHT TO POLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1925, Page 5

FLIGHT TO POLE

AN EXCELLENT START.

LM UNJJSEN’S CONFIDENCE

(Australian and N-Z. Cable Association'.

LONDON, May 22.

A representative of Gaptaiji Amundsen wirelessed from King’s Bay, Spitzv gen, sa, ing: “After tlje, recent bad weather, a decision to start has surprised everybody, except' the meteorologists. Nobody expected a start before the end of the month. As a matter of fact,..the suirt took place at 5.15 J’clock •-yesterday afternoon.’’ “Ideal conditions, favoured'the start <>n the fjord ice, which is smooth, with an adequate layer of new snow. Theia .vere tense .moments as-the {motors had not been started- during the last few days.. All finny of the engine, planes shot .forward over the snow and then they, disappeared in a snowy haze, tvhilst the air rush nearly bowled over the assembled crowd. Prior to the start Captain Amundsen said: “Fourteen years ago I readied’ the South Pole on foot, driving a dog sledge before me. Is is not natural that, to-day in an aeroplane cockpit, with a 760 horsepower engine.,.. I fqel confident ,of success?” : . , '

The weather during the last three days : has steadily improved. .The journalists,- however, were requested not to announce the departure until,, the aeroplanes were well away, so that when tfiis appears in print, Cap'ain Amundsen and five of his comrades .vill probably have landed qt the North Pole,' and will be engaged in making, observations, or perhaps they already are returning.

“GREAT DAY ARRIVES.” i Another message from King’s Bay states’: “Before the start, bn the Thursday, the sun was shining brightly in the. mornihg, so that without wait’•ng for the meteorologists, we instinctively realised that the great day had arrived. The airmen gave the last touches to the planes, but there was not much to do, beyond bringing the last few personal belongings aboard. The . meteorologists continued to receive weather reports from all stations, while, a multitude of coloured observe tion ballooijs showed the direction of the wind. The mechanics received orders to start the! renginus on trial at four o’clock. At four o’clock the entire three hundred population of King’s Bay assembled to witness .the start; The meteorologists continued, to fore-, test good weather, with perhaps a slight head wind towards/the Pole. Reports from Alaska indicate that a wind is forming, which, if the .stay at the Pole is prolonged, will give the airmen a following wind for their return, which will be advantageous, in view of the petrol All are in good spirits at the proximity of the start. LAND FOR NORWAY? LONDON, May 21. Captain Amhndsen wirelessed : —The Hobby goes into open water beyond the ice, *in case we are compelled to descend into the sea. Wo shall continue along the coast to Danes Island, and Amsterdam Jsland. If all go.es well during the hours of flight,, we then will start away for the Pole. I regard the flight qlong the north coast as a trial, and if everythig is not satisfactory, '■e shall return to King’s Bay or Danes island, and await the arrival of the ship there.” A .fni’tlier wireless states: “Captain Amundsen Iv.s given Dietrichsen. the bilot of the Second Aeroplane No.. 24. instructions that in the. even*- of the .’•'la i, es losing contact, he is authorised in the name of the King of Norwav, to take possession of any land eventually discovered. SUCCESS ACHIEVED? (Received to-dav at 11.50 a.m.l LONDON, Mav 22. An unconfirmed report received at Oslo from King’s' Ray. states that \T"imds'm reached the Pole. T’-e Centra] News Agencv has not vet been aAv.ised.- .• ■ . , .. . •