VAST ICY WASTES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 May 1928, Page 2

VAST ICY WASTES.

ITALIAN AIRSHIPS RETURNS. .SPITZBKRGEN, May 19, That the exploration of Polar regions by airship is constantly beset with dangers was revealed by the Italia’s return to King’s Bay after a flight of nearly three days and nights wherein it covered nearly 2000 miles. Teh airship became coated with nearly a ton of ice causing anxiety. Pinally a blizzard compelled the return with the ultimate objective of a thorough exploration of the lands and islands known as Leninlaud unattained.

The Italia, on route, to Franz Joseph Land, made a search for Giilesland claimed to have been discovered by an English explorer of that name. But it failed to lind trace of it.

As the the north coast of Spltzbergou was approached the weather became mure and more uncertain.

Finally, enveloped in a thick belt of fog, the airship nosed its way for hours through the nebulous mass until it observed. that ice was beginning to form on the metal parts. Finally the airship came to open sea ice. Whenever it flew at an altitude of 500 ft. the mid night sun sent rays over the horizon streaming across the dead icy wastes of the Polar I'm -a. Far and wide there w r as not the slightest sign of life.

(Shortly before live o’clock on Wednesday morning the coast of Franz Joseph hand was sighted. The temperature aboard fell as much as seven degrees below zero and the crew, owing to lack of opportunity for exercise, suffered considerably, despite fur outfits. A crust of ice now enveloped the whole airship hindering mamevring. Ir. bee,anie disconcerting over Franz Joseph Land. The flag from the city of Venice w r as thrown over in memory of explorers therefrom who perished there.

Shortly afterwards the headwind strengthened considerably, and slowed pi ogress. , As the Italia liew over one spot where Captain Cagni wintered I’S years ago, a wreath was dropped. When the Italia somewhat Inmheringly aproached whore Uoninland was supposed to be a blizzard broke suddenly. Obviously landing thereabouts was impracticable. Just before mid-night the Italia sot a new course following the receipt ot a wireless from tin* supply ship' advising return as far south as possible. After live hours flight over sea ice Novaya Zemlya rose up to the southward, and the airship simultaneously ran into a new bank of fog. Pho rose to her highest with difficulty to avoid the danger of further ice accumulating as already it was estimated at a ton

in weight. When 150 miles from King’s Bay a series of north-easterlies shook the airship from nose to stern. (.leuoral Nobile, on one occasion, believed it was impossible to make the base, and contemplated steering to VadKm, Norway, All hands, including the wireless operator, were called to keep the Italia in the air, and this explains the absence of replies to the .supply

ships signal. The. crew arc now considerably fatigued with -10 hours’ constant strain of watch.

There was joy on board when the wireless message was received from King’s Bay stating that everything was ready for arrival and the weather favourable for landing. Trie ivalia arrived at King’s Bay in streaming sunshine and calm air, and smoothly landed. AMUNDSEN SURPRISED AT FAILURE TO FIND LAND. Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m. OSLO, May 19. Captain Roald Amundsen, interviewed, described General Nobile’s state-" ment that ho had failed to lind Nicholas the Second Land as astonishing. Amundsen said he personally visited it in his expedition in the .Maud. By means of sledges he had signal posts erected. He thinks General Nobile must have passed the island in a fog. Smith’s Plans Complete

Received Sunday, 5,5 p.m. .SAN FRANCISCO, May .19, Captain Kingsford-Smith stated that the monoplane Southern Cross was ready for the proposed flight to Australia. All that remains is tc set the elate for departure. We have not decided when we will take off,''but it will be in the near future. Smith declared that the 1 ri-motored Fokkcr had completed test flights. The start will be made, from Alii Is Field, Philadelphia.

A Thousand Air Ports in America by End of Year ■Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m. NEW YORK, May 19. The Secretary for War, Mr. D. B', Davis, told delegates of the Associated Harvard Clubs that the United States will have 1000 air ports in operation at the end of the present year. He stated that the progress made by the United States during the past two years was greater than that of any other nation in aviation. Van Lear Black at Cairo Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, May 19. Mr. Van Lear Black, the AmerieanDutch millionaire newspaper proprietor, who left Croydon last week on a 40,000-

ini Io flight to Tokio and back,- has arrived at Cairo. Mr. Van Lear Black has chartered airplanes for numerous business flights. In that way he has visited Italy, Germany, Australia, Vugo-Blavia and France. In July, 3927, he flow from London to Batavia and back to Amsterdam in a Fokker monoplane.