ITALIA'S GREW.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 167, 14 June 1928, Page 7

ITALIA'S GREW.

SCATTERED GROUPS.

RESCUE MADE DIFFICULT

(Australian Press Association.) LONDON, June 13. The latest message received by tho Citta di Milano relative to tho Italia’s crew confirms that of the scattered groups of castaways, three have been cn route for ten days for Cape North, on a desperate march across roughly a hundred miles of treacherous ice; four remain at the wireless post, including two who arc badly injured; three are trekking towards the Hobby and seven are missing with the derelict airship, including the motor engineers, a journalist, Signor Ugolxago and an Italian and a Czccho-Stovakian scientist. One of those at thd wireless post states that he is able, to hear wireless messages from the ship clearly, but a day or two will see the end of the transmitting accumulators. This fact will render rescue operations far more difficult than if the crew remained together. News from King’s Bay, Spitzbergen, states that the Braganza being freed

from tho ico is returning there in order to refuel after which she will leavo immediately for North East Island to attempt tho rescue of tho Italia’s men. She will take off Riiser Larsen and the aeroplane from the Hobby at Tromsoe. Tho steamer Quest with the Norwegian rescue party aboard is going to King’s Bay, also a Swedish rescue ship canning three aeroplanes. Fog, then a shortage of fuel forced down Lieutenant Holm, who went to tho assistance of the Italia’s crew in an aeroplane. Lieutenant Holm was rescued by the Bragayza. Meanwhile aviators are awaiting a chance of reconnaissance and the preparation of larger flying boats for their flight so as to drop food, firearms, boots, medicines and stoves, for which General Nobile lias urgently appealed. A Centj-al News message from King’s Bay says that the latest confusdd wireless message from the Italia suggests that most of tho victuals and equipment were-lost when the airship crashed, and that everyone is frostbitten on the hands and feet.

A messago from Oslo states that Captain Amundsen has but little hope of the Italia’s survivors trekking the distance of 25 miles to the Braganza, as the ice is heavily hummocked and treacherous. He states that if help does not arrive in a few days it will he too late.