POLAR VENTURE

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 221, 19 August 1931, Page 7

POLAR VENTURE

SUBMARINE NAUTILUS. JOURNEY BEGUN. CRAFT LEAVES SPITZBERGEN. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received August 19, 11.0 a.m. SPITZBERGEN, Aug. 18. With her machinery overhauled, the submarine Nautilus has started on her under the sea dash to the North Pole. The submarine is commanded by Sir Hubert Wilkins, the famous Australian explorer. TRIP ACROSS ATLANTIC. TRYING EXPERIENCE. The reconditioned American naval submarine Nautilus crossed the Atlantic in June, the last portion of the journey being done in tow of the 20,000 ton American warship Wyoming. Wireless messages for help were received from the submarine by the warships Arkansas and Wyoming, and the steamer Independence Hall, in midAtlantic on Sunday, June 14. These appeals stated the submarine, which left the United States coast the previous week, had one engine disabled, out was in no immediate danger. It was decided the Wyoming should tow the submarine to Queenstown, a distance of 1500 miles. Owing to the fact that the submarine was virtually out of control, however, it was nearly midnight before a tow-rope was attached by the light of the Wyoming’s searchlights and in heavy wether, which, sent both vesels rolling from side to side.

“WORST TRIP I HAVE KNOWN.” The Nautilus reached Queenstown on June 22. Describing the arrival, the correspondent of the News-Chronicle, Mr J. L. Hodson, said: — “Along the narrow sft wide steel deck stood or sat the Nautilus crew, looking like a regular crew of explorers, some with a week’s beard, and in picturesque sea-boots, dirty woollen sweaters, blue and brown dungarees, blue shirts and tousled heads. They might have come straight from the Pole. They have, in fact, accomplished what they think is the worst part of the journey there. For, make no mistake about it, they are going there.” The writer asked Sir Hubert—this bearded man of 42, who has flown over Antarctic regions, spent his honeymoon in the Graf Zeppelin, and was described by Sir John Monasli as the coolest and most intrepid officer in the Australian Army—whether this trip had been his most trying experience. “Well,” Sir Hubert said, “in its sustained worry it has been the worst thing I have known. It was very eerie those nights when our deck lights were gone and the Wyoming played a searchlight on us sitting cooped up below, with hatches battened down and only an occasional light showing through the port holes. The worst thing about the voyage lias been the stench and fumes and dirt we have suffered from. At times the seas have been running high, sweeping this narrow deck from stem to stern. “Then again we all got . sick—some sort of food poisoning, I think, owing to bad lighting at that particular time in the galley and some odds and ends getting into the food by mistake. Rothschild (the cook) and Blumberg (the electrician) are still far from well, but they’re up and about; the rest of us are quite fit. SHORTAGE OF BREAD. “Until they fell sick the men played bridge and cribbage a bit, but since then they’ve just slept when off duty. We got short of bread, too. A dozen or more loaves went overboard early because they got stale, and biscuits were left ashore by mistake. We have needed -km since, but the Wyoming came to tl.e rescue with fresh meat, vegetables and bread. Then again, our electric cooker could not be used for a while through the batteries running low and we could only cook on deck with wood fires. “Did the men sing? Well. I often heard Riggs, the second engineer, singing while working at the auxiliary engine, but he must have felt more like cursing. That engine has proved too delicate for adjustment on a submarine.” “Who has been the hero of the journey?” Sir Hubert was asked. Ho said, “We have had several heroes. The whole crew have worked splendidly and deserve great credit. Commander Danenliower has spared no effort and has handled the snip finely.”