NARRATIVE OF WILKINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19931, 27 April 1928, Page 11

NARRATIVE OF WILKINS.

MUCH YET TO BE BONE, . £< : . ' MYSTERIES OF THE ARCTIC, ■ ■ \ FUTURE AIRWAY POSSIBLE. GENERAL NOBILFS CHANCES. (Received April 26, 5.10 p.ti.j NEW YORK, April 25. [The following is a continuatioui of th& narrative of the flight across the Arctic written by Captain &. H. Wilhins and telegraphed by him from Svalbard. It ia copyrighted by the Australian and New Zealand Press Association and the New York Times].

Our first sight of Green Harbour, Svalbard, from the air was like seeing a golden city paved with gold. Our five snow-bound days on Dead Man's Island was the filip necessary to help us realise/ our wonderful good fortune, particularly in view of the storm which raged upon our first landing. The wireless operator at Kings Bay lost his way to a village from the wireless station in that storm and was frozen to death.

We cannot thank each of the many persons who have sent us messages of congratulation, but we would like to express through the medium of the press our sincere appreciation. The flight we made may be the forerunner of trans arctic ti'ansportation over a scenic air route which, in years to come, will serve curious sightseers who will speed from Alaska's tundras to the awe-inspiring Greenland. There is, however, still much advance to be made in aeronautical engineering and weather forecasting. Many more chapters may still be written in the book of Arctic exploration. General Nobili will perhaps cover the route from Wrangel Island to Dixon, the Russian„ meteorological station near Novaya Zembla, and more than likely his flight will result in the discovery of new islands.

We wish the Italian aviator all success, but fear his misfortune and' delay will mean it is too late in the summer for productive long-distanco flying in the Arctic. The sounding of the Arctic ocean depths has yet to be done. I feel certain men of experience could fly out from Grant Land to the North Pole, land, make soundings and return without too great a risk.

The conditions of servicing the engines of aeroplanes jn th<> Arctic are not particularly different from those elsewhere. We used the same quality of petrol and oil as in the United States. The Arctic is a mistress that will not be subdued by idle gestures.

The depth of the snow will probably delay our departure from Svalbard. One vessel which was a possible means of transportation is now frozen solid in Kings Bay. Another ship which will call at Long Year City, about 50 miles from here, may arrive about the middle of May, and it may serve to carry us to Oslo. From there we expect to ship our plane to New York and proceed there ourselves.