NORTH POLAR DRIFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18577, 8 December 1923, Page 11

NORTH POLAR DRIFT.

MAUD'S SLOW PROGRESS.

DRIVEN SOUTH BY GALES.

AEROPLANES OUT OF ACTION By Telegraph— Association Copyright A. and N.Z. LONDON, Dec. 6. A wireless message received at Spitzbergen, from Captain Wishing, of the Maud, covers the drift of the ship from March to October. She first drifted northwest, and reached 75deg. 25min. north and 165deg. east of the end of June. During the summer she continued to drift northward. Her most northerly position was 76deg. 16rnin. north and 163deg 30min. east. Thereafter she was driven southward by prolonged north-east gales to 75deg. lOmin. north and 159deg. 30min. east at the end of October, the date of the latest report The scientist, Mr. Sverdrup, is of the opinion that the direction of the currents indicates that there is no large land area north-east of De Long Islands. The dogs are in excellent condition. Hunting has provided for everybody, and there is an abundance of fresh meat. The preliminary aeroplane flights were unsuccessful. The compasses were untrustworthy, and the ice • was so level and featureless that orientation was most difficult, and it was dangerous to proceed far from the Maud. In a later attempt* the "machine Rose was severely damaged, but was repaired. In a final attempt engine trouble forced a landing, irreparable damage being done. Aerial exploration was therefore abandoned. Captain Raold Amundsen, in an interview, said he considered ths drift satisfactory. The present southward movement tallies with the Fram's' experience. He believes the Mafad henceforth will redrift northward. He has not abandoned his design to fly to the Pole in the summer.

The Maud started on her attempt to drift across the North Polar region fftim Nome, Alaska, in July, 1922. She is now to the north of Eastern Siberia.