FROZEN NORTH

Northern Advocate, 22 June 1925, Page 5

FROZEN NORTH

SUPERHUMAN EFFORT STRUGGLE TO SAFETY. POLAR PARTY'S EXTREMITY. (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, June 20. A wireless from Heimdal, Spitsbergen, says: "We are slowly getting to know the full facts of the returned airmen's three weeks' adventure. When the whole expedition once again mot last night they declared that the most thrilling moment was when the start was made on the homeward flight. It was a very anxious time, as if the machine were damaged in starting they would have found themselves in a most critical situation. With a minimum of equipment, it would have been practically hopeless to reach land across the ice." The airmen refuse to admit that they were disappointed in not reaching the Pole. "Although Ave all hoped to reach, the Pole as a crown to our efforts, still, we are satisfied with the scientific results. We have observed 160,000 square kilometres of hitherto unexplored section of the Norwegian part of the Arctic. We took complete observations at the landing place." Amundsen fully concurred in this view. On the return flight, while a meal was being prepared, the airmen suddenly espied the sealer Sjoeliv. As a matter of fact, the Hobby had been at the same spot only 28 hours previously. When the return was begun all were prepared to find the 'plane in bad condition, as it suffered seriously while locked in the ice, but it was quite fitted for flying. Lieutenant Omdal brought with him to the Sjoeliv a biscuit tin with 600 negatives, which will show the superhuman work carried out by the explorers. In trying to clear the starting place they used some primitive tools —tiny axes, ice anchors, and knives at the end of ski staves.—A. and N.Z.