“ITALIA” LOST?

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 May 1928, Page 7

“ITALIA” LOST?

ANOTHER SILENT DAY — I RESCUE EFFORTS HINDERED (Australian Press Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, May 29.Advices from King’s Bay state that the supply steamer, Citta di Milano’s expedition in search of the “Italia” is at a standstill, as the ship is not built strongly enough to withstand the ice pressure. Moreover, it is now considered that the only men who now can help the “Italia” are the few fur trappers who are accustomed to the conditions on the coast, and the trappers are now being organised, in order that a search may begin forthwith. The ships “Hobby” and “Braganza” will be manned by special crews, and will carry a detachment of Norwegian soldiers, who are used to the Polar regions. If the “Italia” came down in the south of Spitzbergen there is but little hope of the party’s survival, as the ice there is constantly shifting, and a landing from an aeroplane ooat is almost impossible. Thus far nothing has been achieved by the aeroplanes, owing to the storms, which, have been almost continuous since the “Italia” started out. A message from the Citta di Milano denies receiving any message whatever from the seal-hunters on, or around, Amsterdam Island. BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. (Received May 30, 9.15 a.m.) KING’S BAY, May 30. The Citta Di Milano returned at midnight. It received no message from the Italia. A strong wind is blowing from the north, and it is snowing and very cold. RELIEF EXPEDITIONS (Per Presa Association.) , GISBORNE, May 31. Mr. Ivan O’Meara (wireless expert) has received a message from Oslo (Norway) which states that large aeroplanes, accompanied by steamships equipped for Arctic work, are the means proposed by the Norwegian Government for searching the northern wastes for traces . of the lost dirigible Italia, and the personnel of eighteen. While every radio in Norway and Russia, particularly Siberia, has strained every attention to catch some radio word from the Italia, nothing was heard. All sorts of rumours are in Oslo about the fate of the airship, but all lacked confirmation. Cesare Sabelli, an Italian flier, is preparing in New York for the New York-Rome flight, announced that he would hop .off at noon on May 29 for the Arctic to aid in the search for the Italia, unless word of its safety is received before then. He plans to fly direct to Spokane thence to Point Barrow (Alaska) and from there across the Pole to the vicinity in which he might expect to find the Italia. A SYDNEY PROTEST SYDNEY, May 31.' Uproarious scenes occurred at a social gathering at the Paddington Town Hall, at which the Italian community was welcoming the new Italian Consul-General last night. All was serene till about midnight, when two men in Fascist uniform entered and shouted a protest against holding social festivities while the fate of the airship Italia was in doubt. An angry disturbance followed. The police were called in and tactfully announced that the Town Hall authorities had decreed the gathering should cease. The festivities immediately terminated before damage occurred to anybody or anything. WILKINS IN DENMARK COPENHAGEN, May 30. Wilkins and Eilson were guests at a public festival at the Town Hall. Later, they banqueted with the Aeronautical and Royal Geographical Societies, the Crown Prince presiding. Each was presented with the Aeronautical Society’s Gold Medal. BYRD’S SHIP MISSING. /Per Press Association.) GISBORNE, May 31 The following radio message was recorded by Mr Ivan O’Meara, from the “New York Times’’ broadcast: “Commander Byrd’s ship, Samson., left Pendleton (England) on May 7, taking the great circle course for New York. Since sailing, nothing further has been ’ heard. The Samson is a combination of sail and steam, barquentine rigged, with three masts and stack between the centre and aftermast. The overall length is 161 feet with 27 feet beam. It is urgently requested that anyone that has sighted or been in touch by radio call (letters W.R.0.) will please radio immediately the Bvrd Antarctic Expedition. New York, giving the date sighted, worked ami the location.’’ SPAIN TO INDIA. LONDON, May 29. “The Times’s” Madrid correspondent states: The aviators Jiminez and Inglesias nave departed, secretly, on a record-breaking attempt for a long distance flight from Seville to India. They are flying a specially-built aeroplane named “Jesus of Great Power. GERMAN WOMAN’S VENTURE. NEW YORK, May 29. Thea. Rasche, the German aviatrix, has announced that she will make a non-stop flight from New York to Berlin in. a Beilanca single-motored monoplane. She will be accompanied by a navigator and a co-pilot, and will be starting shortly after June 10. This flight has been financed by a group of New York business men, who contributed 50.000 dollars. SMITH’S PACIFIC FLIGHT. (Received May 31. 9.30 a.m.) VANCOUVER, May 30. A message from Oakland states that Smith announced that he would take a short test flight during the afternoon, after which he would say definitely whether he would start to-morrow morning on a flight to Honolulu. The ’plane has been pronounced in perfect condition by experts, and the airmen arc all very confident of success. A

few imperfections in the engine that were revealed during the endurance flight attempts last autumn, have been completely eliminated. Weather fore-i casts indicate good flying conditions along the Pacific coast on Thursday. Fair weather is predicted for a distance of a thousand miles at sea, with fresh northerly winds, and some cloudiness thence to Honolulu. NEW YORK, May 30. Kingsford Smith and three companions took off in a short trial flight over San Francisco Bay, carrying a load equal to half the ’plane’s total petrol capacity. HONOLULU PREPARATIONS. HONOLULU, May 30. Despite the unhappy aftermath of last year’s trans-Pacific flights, enthusiasm is growing keen here, as preparations are being completed for the reception of the Australian fliers. The army’s Hawaiian department is placing all the resources at the disposal of the airmen, and is testing the radio beam transmitters, and conditioning the wheeler field, where the aviators are expected to land; also arranging for the policing of the crowd that will witness the arrival. A hundred and ten craft of the United States battle fleet is now anchored in these waters, under orders to be prepared to steam to the aid of the fliers should the emergency arise. GISBORNE, May 31.. A wireless recorded by Mr Ivan O’Meara from the San Francisco Examiner’s station indicates the Southern Cross now proposes to (leave at 4.30 a.m. to-morrow (New. : Zealand time) being equivalent to 9' a.m. today (American time). Mr O’Meara has been advised that Captain Smith’s beacon at Crissky Field has been torn down. Arrangements have been completed for all ships in the Pacific to be listening for the ’plane’s wireless, which will be transmitted on 33.5 and 605 metres. The ’plane carries a receiver, both short and medium wave. AIRSHIP FOR AUSTRALIA. (Times Cables.) LONDON, May 30. Bert Campbell, of. Glasgow, who lived fifteen years in Australia, is secretlv constructing an airship to fly to Australia at the end of July. At present he is learning airship navigation. He says he conceived the idea of a non-rigid airship commercial service to Australia, for which he says he obtained the backing of Australian business men twelve months ago. The airship is 170 feet long and has 105 thousand feet cubic capacity, twin engines, and a cruising range three ■thousand miles. Frederick Boothby, executes the final details. There will be a crew of four, and the airship will follow Hinkler’s route, day and night flying. THE PRINCE’S PLANE. (Received May 31, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. Thousands crowded round the Prince of Wales’ aeroplane at Norwich, whence he flew from London to open the new pleasure ground. The Prince, in full flying kit, waved from the cockpit as he was rising. Captain Rice, Chairman of the Norwich Aero Club, asked the Prince if he intended to take up flying. He replied: “I prefer riding and golf, but I may take up flying later.” In the same machine on Sunday, the Prince flew from Scarborough to Sandringham, in order to be in time to dine with the King and Queen.