POLAR EXPLORATION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 21 May 1928, Page 5

POLAR EXPLORATION

SEARCH FOR LAND. ITALIA IN A BLIZZARD. CREW’S LONG TASK. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —BY ELECTOR TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.' SPITZBERG EN, May 19. That the exploration of the Polar regions bv airship is oonstantlv beset with danger? was revealed by Centura: Nobile on his return alter a flight of nearv three days and nights, wlieiein the airship covered nearly 2000 miles. The airship became coated with nearly a. ton of ice, causing grave anxiety. Final’v a blizzard compelled the return with the ultimate objective, the thorough exploration of the lands and islands known as Leninland,’ unattained. The Italia, en route, made a search for Gilbsland, which is' claimed to have been discovered by an English explorer of that name, but it failed to find any trace of it. As the north coast of Soitzbergen was approached the weather became mom and more uncertain Finally, enve'oped in a thick belt of bg, tiie airship nosed its way for hours through a nebulous mass until it was observed that ice was beginning to form on the metal parts. The airship came to open sea. ice. Wherever it- flew at an altitude of 500 feat the “niidnighlt .sun” sent its , ray? over the horizon, -st-retiming' ac-roi?? the dead icy waters of the Pola.r Sea far d wide. There was not the slightest sign of life. Shortly. before 5 o’clock on Wednesday morning the coast of Franz Joseph Land was sighted. The tempi?rail ore aboard fell as much as seven degrees below zero and the crew, owing to lack of opportunity for exercise, suffered considerably, despite their fur outfits. •V crust of ice had by then enve-c-ped the whole, airship, hindering its. manoeuvring, which became o-isconeeiting over Franz Joseph Land. A flag fioni the city of Venice was thrown over in memory of tin? explorers therefrom who perished there. Shortlv afterwards the head wind strengthened considerably and slowed the progress of the airship. A? it flew over th® spot where Captain Cagni wintered 28 years ago a wreath was dropped. When the Ttalia somewhat lumberingly approached! where Leninland was supposed to be, a blizzard broke suddenly. Obvious!v lauding thereabouts was impracticable. Just- before midnight the Italia set a new course, following the receipt of a wireless message from the supply ship advising a as tar south as possible. After five hours’ flight over sea ice, Novayazemla iose up to the southward and the airship .simultaneously ran into a new bank of fog. She rose higher with difficulty to avoid the danger oi further ice accumulating, as already it was estimated at one ton m weight. When 150 miles from King’s Bay, a series of north-easterlies shook the airship from nose to stern. General. Nobile on one occasion believed, it- was impossibly to make the base, and he contemplated steering for Va-dsoe, Norway. AH hands, including the wireless operator were called to keep the Italia in the’ air. and this explains the absence of replies to the supply .ship’s signals. The crew are now considerably fatigued with the 40 hours’ constant strain cf watching. There was jov on board when a wire ess message was received from King’s Bay stating that everything was ready ior the airshio s arrival, and that the weather was favourable for landing. . The Italia arrived at King s Bay in streaming sunshine and calm air, and smoothlv landed.

DOES THE LAND EXIST?

OSLO. May 19

Captain Amundrem when interviewed, d escribed General Nobiles .stfitemoii that lie failed to find Nicholas II Land r« astonishing. Captain Amundsen .said he -personally visited rb in his expedition in the “Maud” by means of-sledges. He had signal posts erected. He thinks General Nobile must have passed toe island in the fog. NO LAND DISCOVERED. LONDON, May 18. A message from King’s Bay states that the Italia has safely returned. It is understood that it has. been confirmed that there is no land at the spot, charted as Nicholas II or Lenin Land.