ITALIA DISASTER

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 221, 16 August 1928, Page 8

ITALIA DISASTER

3 P.M. EDITION

END CAME SUDDENLY. SUDDEN LOSS OF GAS. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Times Cables). Received August 16. 1.5 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 14. Professor Francis Behounck, the Czeclio-Slovakian scientist, continues his story of the final disastrous flight of tho Italia: “We flew in the direction of tlio thirteenth to the fourteenth meridian, detouring slightly in order to inspect unexplored territory. “The weather was mostly foggy and the sky overcast. The fog began to concentrate in a compact mass. A layer of ice almost half an inch thick accumulated on the surface of the ship and the antennae. Biagi, the wireless operator, was compelled to change some of the latter.

“We slept in turn for short periods, as sleeping accommodation was most severely limited. In the small hours of the morning the weather showed a “marked change. The wind, which was stronger from the southwest, was dragging the airship eastward, although all three motors were working, which would normally have given a speed of sixty miles. “The fog prevented us from ascertaining the position astronomically. We were compelled to rely on bearings obtained by radio from the base ship Citta di Milano. “Shortly after nine o’clock in tlio morning I suddenly noticed by the altimeter that we were rapidly sinking. Then I heard .signals to the motor crew and the motors stopped. “The airship dropped, then rose quickly above the clouds. Apparently there had been a mistake in manoeuvring. “Disaster came soon after eleven o’clock, up to which time everything was apparently normal. The last observation from the electrometer marked on my book was 1035. The next would have been 1135.

“The end came so swiftly that it was impossible even to send a wireless message for help. “The sudden loss of gas caused tlio airship to drop 1500 feet upon paekico, in less than ’two minutes, despite desperate efforts to lighten tho craft. “It is impossible to describe the accident in detail. Everyone remained calm, even when they saw the white expanse below change and hundreds of ice-floes growing in size and apparently rushing upwards towards us. ’

A message relative to the above is published on page 7.