STILL NO NEWS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 30 May 1925, Page 5

STILL NO NEWS

AMUNDSEN’S EXPEDITION

ANXIETY INCREASING

HOBBY’S FRUITLESS SEARCH. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT (Received May 30, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 29. The Hobby has returned to Spitzbergen. She saw no sign of the airmen. She went as far as Point Welcome. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

MESSAGES' FROM THE FRaM. LONDON, May 28. No news regarding the fate of Captain Amundsen has been received at Spitzbergen, according to the latest wireless messages received from the Fram. A wireless message from the Fram on Wednesday at 5 p.m. states: “Messages received here from Oslo wirelessly announce that the American press is ” taking a pessimistic view of the result of Amundsen’s flight and there are plans to despatch relief, but from Amundsen’s plans there is no reason to doubt that the flight- will have a happy conclusion. Like the rest of the world we are on the tip-toe of excitement, and expect momentarily to see the ’planes appear from over Amsterdam Island; but no one at present is anxious, as we frequently heard Amundsen and his colleagues say they would possibly 'be several days en route.

“We should have expected them back the first day .if they had not found a landing-place at the Pole; but, as they have not returned, we. are agreed that a landing-place has been found either at the Pole or nearby. In the latter event the airmen would be compelled to use skis. According to Amundsen, observations and investigations would probably be prolonged on both the outward and homeward journeys.”

A later message, from the Fram states: “Several members of the expedition daily ascend the heights at Wellman’s Bay for miles and gaze north towards the ice edge. We have often discussed the possibilities of the ’planes having descended in the drift (ice and considered the question of saerching for them; but Amundsen’s orders were clear, that- the vessels niust remain here as long as the weather is clear until a fortnight after the start. ■ Then only the ice edge is to be patrolled, if possible, to North Cape, in the north-east land. “We feel it impossible that both ’planes can have used all the petrol and been compelled to land near Spitzbergen. The consensus of opinion is that the good weather has induced the airme n to piolong their stay at the Pole to take complete observations with the present good weather conditions. “It will, be some days before we become really anxious, though with each passing day the possibility increases that the airmen are already on their way to Cape Columbia on foot if the ’planes were damaged at the Pole. It is also possible that the ’planes were damaged during the return flight, and that the airmen' are now walking towards Spitzbergen.”

CHANGE IN WEATHER

ANXIETY AT SPITZBERGEN

PREPARATIONS FOR, SEARCH

LONDON, May 29. The following message received at Loudon at 1 a.m. dramatically indicates that a change in the weather has precipitated action at Spitsbergen and the search for Captain Amundsen has begun.

A wireless message from the Fram at 7 p.m. on Tnursday states: “The tension here is increasing. The weather is thickening and clouds are hiding the mountains. Heavy snow is falling. The Hobby has been despatched to patrol -the ice edge in accordance with Amundsen’s tions in case of bad weather.”

A special message to the Copenhagen Politiken from its Oslo correspondent states that the Norwegian Air and Shipping Union has decided to ask the Government to despatch two naval aeroplanes to Spitzbergen to assist in the search. The union previously telegraphed for the opinion of Lieutenant Horgen, the expedition’s reserve pilot. Lieutenant Horgen replied that a search should begin a fortnight after the start, as arranged by Amundsen. <3 Captain Grettir Algarrasson, the Vancouver explorer, jn an interview at Liverpool, states that he is in negotiation for the purchase of an aeroplane for use if he goes to the relief of Amundsen. “It appears that we will have to relinquish the intended flight to Alaska and concentrate on the rescue of Amundsen,” he added. “I think he is in difficulties, and we ought to act quickly. It seems to me clear that he has abandoned his ’planes.” A message from Oslo states that the Norwegian Aero Club discussed the preparations for aerial relief for Amundsen. Experts contended that it is too early to send rescuers, and in any case an airship would lie useless. Flying boats or an iceship would be best. It was pointed out that Amundsen might have encountered mist and be unable to use the sun as a compass. In this event he would have drifted and landed a long way from the Pole, and would have lost time and petrol in rectifying the error. M. Biatz, head of the Hornier works, where the aeroplanes were made, says that so far everything has gone according to programme. “We never expected Amundsen to retur n in less than a week or a fortnight,” he added.

EXPEDITION TO POINT BAT?ROW. NEW YORK, May 28. The ship Charles Brower, stationed at St. Laurence Island, in the Behring Sea, is now on its way to Cape Hope, four hundred miles from Point Barrow. Thence the expedition will be sent lo Point Barrow to await Amundsen if he returns by that route. AMUNDSEN’S PLANS. NOT EXPECTED BACK TILL SUNDAY. OSLO, May 28. Gustav Amundsen, who assisted in the preparations for the flight to the Pole, says he would have been disappointed if his brother returned immediately after reaching the Pole. He believes his brother landed 7\ miles from the Pole, and the march there would occupy three days and a similar time to get back to the base. This,

with the time spent at the Pole and the return flight, would mean ten days. Therefore, he considers Sunday the earliest time he could be expected back at Spitzbergen. Amundsen, however, may spend a longer time at the Pole, because he desired to do things thoroughly. “Therefore I am not anxious if he fails to return before the middle of next week,” said his brother. Amundsen, he thought, would certainly return by the same route. There is no possibility of his returning via Alaska. Should the machines he wrecked the only thing to do would lie to walk to Cape Columbia. MY ST ERIOUS MESS AG E. AMUNDSEN FOUND. NO CONFIRMATION. MELBOURNE, May 29. It is reported that a listener-in at broadcasting station 3LC this aiternoon heard a message stating that Amundsen had been found. 3LC cannot explain the origin of the message. Later information shows that the message was received on the Mewan Company’s loud speaker. It i s not known what station it came from, but England and other stations had at times been picked up.