ILL-FATED EXPEDITION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 18 July 1928, Page 5

ILL-FATED EXPEDITION

CONDUCT OF GENERAL. NOBILE INVESTIGATION DEMANDED HONOURS TO THE SOVIET. Untied I’ress Association—By Electric Telegiapn copyright.) —L mted Service). LONDON, July 16. Germany and Scandinavia are beginning to . ask whether General Nobue s conduct in leaving his companions anti ensuring his own rescue was that of an on ice r and a gentleman, such, for instance, as captain Oates or ±*rolessor ALalmgrem. • The Danish explorer Peter Frenclien, in an article in the ‘’Politician,"' demands an investigation by a court of Honour, which should say whether German experts are correct in asserting that the Italia, was unfit for the expedition, whether General Nobile’s beliaviour after the wreck in leaving his comrades and accepting relier was pardonable, and whether Ins misleading, contradictory declarations brought new danger and more expense to the relief expeditions. , ~ , M. Carl G. Ekman, the Swedish Premier confirms the plans officially to investigate Professor Malmgrem’s death, and the Foreign Secretary, M. E Lofgren, demands that full light should be thrown on “this outrageous, tragedy." Although Rome has officially denied that General Nobile was ordered to try to reach the Pole on the anniversary of Italy’s entry to the war, the Italia tragedy, according to tlie Berlin correspondent of “The Times, Jias produced a series of Press attacks on General NoMe .and Fascism winch reached a climax after the general was reported to have blamed himself for attempting the achievement on the anniversary indicated. It is repeatedly suggested that General Nobile and Professor Malmgrem‘s two Italian companions snatched at rescue and abandoned their comrades. . “The outcome of this heroic venture is universally regarded as a. defeat for Fascism,’ ’ isays tlie “Tageblatt” (Berlin) “It .is the logical result oi asystem which tries to bluff the gal.erv by gestures. “What did the Italian general seek in these inhospitable regions? It is difficult to achieve imperium Romanum on the fully-occupied earth. The North pole enterprise was prepared with more pomp than skill. After trying to force ids reluctant companion® to decorate the Pole with flags on May 24 this theatrical braggart failed to defy the white solitude with his bloody emblems. Brave men of many nations had to risk their lives to rescue this discredited man and his unfortunate companions. “Malicious destiny must have directed the Soviet icebreaker’s course. Excellently equipped and efficiently navigated this vessel with the Bolshevist name quietly reecued the castaways. “The non-Bolshevist world has little sympathy with the Soviet star shining over five fresh graves,’’ continued the “Tageb'att," referring to the alleged spies the Soviet executed, “but it cannot refuse it admiration. Fascism is obliged to thank the enemy from which : t wishes to save mankind for a deed of salvation. What irony it is that fascism wished to paste down a placard on the pole, and instead it presented Bolshevism with this wonderful propa-, gatida material." BITTERLY RESENTED. OR. TIC ISM OF GENERAL NOBILE. ITALIAN PRESS REPLY. Received 9.50 a.m. to-day, ROME, July 17. Newspapers bitterly resent tire, criticism of certain Scandinavian and other Continental newspapers in urging an inquiry into P'roressor Malmgren’s deatli, practically accusing and Mariano or leaving iMlalmgren to die on tlie ice. Tlie “Tribunal ’ points out that all three were soldiers under military discipline, and received .precise orders from General Nobile to establish contact with the outside world. The lives of tlie rest of the party depended on carrying this out. When Malmgren’s death occurred it was certainly the duty of Zappi and Mariano to go on while their strength lasted. Zappi in like i ash ion would have had to abandon Mariano in his turn if he had not been imprisoned on the ice floe. The “Giornale d’ltalia" • denounces the “inhuman campaign of vilification," and further says: “We understand and respect the grief of the Swedish nation at the loss of Prolessor Malmgren, but .aweden should respect Italy’s grief at the loss of the Italia, and her pride in the smiling, heroism of Biagi, the legendary audacity of Sora, and the sacrifice of Zappi and Mariano. Their version of the tragic farewell to their comrades must be accepted as the world ae;opts the story of Scott."