POLAR FLIGHTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 107, 6 April 1926, Page 8

POLAR FLIGHTS.

NEW EXPEDITION. \

UNITED STATES BACKING

Received April 6, 12.10 p.m. NEW YORK, April 5. Tlie Polar, ship Chantier, carrying an expedition headed bv Commander Byrd sailed on Monday for Spitzbergen with two airplanes stored in tho holds of the vessel. The charting of new lands and obtaining meteorological data and scientific knowledge are the objects of the expedition, which has the backing of the United States Government. , Their hope is to fly to tho Polo and back if they -get tho chance.—Sydney Sun cable. ANXIETY FELT. NO NEWS OF WILKINS. Received April 6, 12.10 p.m. VANCOUVER, April 5. Some anxiety Is felt at Fairbanks owing to the silence of Captain Wilkins, who has not been heard from since Friday night. He was expected to return to Fairbanks on Easter Sunday, but ho has not appeared, although tho flying weather is perfect. The party which left Fairbanks bv dog sledge for Barrow also struck trouble after crossing .the Endacott mountains. They wirelessed that they were short of food for tho dogs and that unless relief was sent soon they must shoot some of the animals. The leader of this party, Malcolm Smith, set out for help and provisions but has not since been heard of. —Sydney Sun cable.