One Already Dead, Two Dying

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6634, 13 June 1928, Page 7

One Already Dead, Two Dying

Remainder of Italia’s Crew in Dire Straits

Castaways in Three Groups on Ice Floes Liable to he Engulfed at any Moment ILL-LUCK HAMPERING EFFORTS OF RESCUERS ! ' ■. ' ' • Ifni tod. Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Tuesday, 11.0 p.m. LONDON, June 12. One of the crew of the Italia is dead and two others have broken legs and are dying. Three more struggling ill-clad and foodless toward Northeast Land over melting ice floes, knee deep in slush and are doomed, while the remainder of the expedition in two groups, roughly 16 miles -apart, are in the direst straits.

This is the purport of a fragmentary wireless message from various sources to-day.

Dogged by Adversity.

11l luck in tho shape of crashes and lack of suitable equipment are hampering the efforts of dating airmen to reach the castaways, whose unstable sanctuary is liable to engulf them at any moment. Commander Maddalelan’s seaplane craihed into a motor boat after refuelling at Ouchy and damaged a wing which will take her ten days to repair. Holm’s plane, based at least 123 miles from tho castaways, has a maximum range of 340 miles and is capable of carrying a heavy load of foodstuffs. How Disaster Happened. It is now established that General Nobile at the critical moment when he found the Italia weighed down by a coating of ice and the sides torn by fragments flung by the propellers, and that it was impossible to make King’s Bay against the blizzard, decided to anchor,- but the Italia, became unmanageable. The forward control car carrying General Mobile and fix of tho crew came into violent impact with the ice, the pneumatic buffers alone saving the • occupants from instant death. 1 Refuses to Divulge Names.

state that a wireless message from tho Italia say that the position is becoming desperate. Food is becoming short, and tho men are suffering from frozen hands and feet.

An amplified report from King's Bay states that General Nobile and seven companions are attempting to reach the steamer Braganza on foot over 124 miles through the ice barriers in the way. The crew are split into three groups and are out of touch with General Nobile.

The wireless operator urgently appeals for food and medical supplies for the injured. A message from King’s Bay states that the aviator Lieutenant ,Holm has located two nf the Italia’s injured men at Brandy Bay. Great Danger Yet.

General Nobile refused to disclose tho names of the injured or of the man who subsequently died. The result of the first crash was that relieved of the weight of the gondola the airship rose and drifted away. It touched ice /again thirty kilos distant when seven men jumped clear. Further on still three more dropped on the ice. Then according to one message the airship thus lightened drifted westward into the unknown. Position Desperate. Earlier advices from King’s Bay

An Oslo newspaper declares there is big risk of the stranded crew being carried to the sea and urges tho necessity of speedy help. Captains Larsen and Holm will do their utmost to attempt to drop food from tho air In the meantime a fresh Swedish relief expedition is under way. The Soviet icebreaker Maligin is also departing from Archangel to establish an aeroplane base from which to take off. To drop food or help for any of the party is impossible for several days. Italy Hurries Help. A message from Eome states that a seaplane, part of the Italian Government's life expedition, leaves Pisa to-day in an attempt to succour the Italia’s crew. An Air Force officer will man the seaplane as it is understood Captain Sir George Wilkins is unable to accept the invitation to take over command.