ITALIAN CASTAWAYS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 18 June 1928, Page 11

ITALIAN CASTAWAYS

WORK OF RESCUE. STEADY PROGRESS MADE. RAD WEATHER CONDITIONS. (United Press Association —By Electrio Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) Received 2.5 p.m. to-day. LONDON, June 17. Although the condition of the oast awiays is at present unknown, relief aeroplanes and steamers are progressing splendidly. Tlhe Maddalena 5 s seaplane has almost reached Bear Island, and in the second attempt was farced back because of fog. It is re-attempt-ing to /reach Spitsbergen to-morrow. A Swedish seaplane has arrived at Narvik. A Finnish Junkers seaplane reached Tromso and Major Gui'lbaud's seaplane lias arrived at Bergen and picked up Clap tain Amundsen. Tile Braganza wirelessed that she was now about six miles eastwards of Cape North. The Hobby is nearby. A (heavy snow fall and fog on Saturday prevented .any flight from the ship, and conditions aie still bad. A message from Rome says that Commander Sansonatti, of the Ministry of Marine, gave an audience to journalists. He said that Italy bad, no illusions as to the gravity of the disaster, but the organisation of relief wa® a question of time. The Hobby and Braganza looked like penetrating beyond the usual Arctic limits. He considered that for an Italian rescue of the airmen big risks would have to be faced and at least six hundred miles non-stop flight with heavy aeroplanes. There was considerable risk in an attempt at a landing. He considered the Russian ice-breaker now en route would penetrate farthest towards* the castaways.

FLIGHTS PROVE RESULTLESS

Received 2.15 p.m. to-day. LONDON, June 18

A message from King’s Bay states that Larsen and Hoilm carried out flights, but the visibility was poor and the search was without result. OSLO, June 18. Major GuiiLbaud, who is* piloting Captain Amundsen and Lieutenant Districihon, has departed from Bergen for Spitsbergen.

BRAGANZA ROUND NORTH CAPE

TO BE USED AS BASE FOR FURTHER EXPEDITIONS. Received 1.20 p.m. to-day. LONDON, June 17. A copyright message from King’s Bay states that the Braganza has rounded the dreaded Cape' North and is laboriously forcing her way through the ice. She will remain indefinitely in this' position as a base for the* larger expedition, which will be landed as* soon as* the fog has lifted. The Hobby is close behind, and will probably return to King’s Bay, for supplies and equipment. The fog is exasperatingly thick, preventing Lieut._ Larsen and Holm from starting their flight to tlie rescue of the three men cabled last week. There is no possibility of sending out the equipment General (Nobile has asked for for at least a week until the arrival of the Maddalena, which is expected at King’s Bay this afternoon.

FURTHER, PREPARATIONS BEING MADE. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) PARIS, June 16. Major Guilbaud, the French aviator, who is joining in the search for the Italia’s crew, lias started for Bergen. In readiness for Major Guilbaud’s arrival, a variety of provision that General Nobile is likely to need is being assembled at Bergen whither Captain departs to-night, taking with hint Lieut. Dietrichson, who piloted Captain Amundsen’s polar flight in 1925, also Wisting, Captain Amundsen’s inseparable Arctic and Antarctic companion. It is exactly 25 years to-day since Captain Amundsen started his first expedition. The Maddelana left Yadose for Spitzbergen this morning, but was obliged to descend owing to a damaged motor. The aeroplane was towed to Vadsoe and resumed its journey this evening. Oslo messages state that the latest wireless information is that General Nobile has been carried, north-westerley past Foynisland, and is now 15 kilometres east of Charles XII. Island. Nobile asked for rifles and ammunition as lie had seen Polar bears.