FEARS FOR THE ITALIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19957, 28 May 1928, Page 9

FEARS FOR THE ITALIA

STORMS AT SYALBARD. ARCTIC AIRSHIP MISSING. WIRELESS NOW SILENT. FORCED LANDING BANGER, NORWAY TO MAKE SEARCH. By Telegraph—Preps Association—Copyright. Australian Press Association—United Service (Received May 27, 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, May 26. The news that the airship Italia had returned to King's Bay, Svalbard (Spitzbergen), after her flight across the. North Pole, was premature. Despatches received from Vadso, the most northerly port of Norway, say there was no news of the Italia at Kings Bay at 3 a.m. today. Nothing has been heard at the wireless stations, possibly because the Italia's aerial is coated with ice. It is feared that the storm encountered bv General Nobili and his companions on their return flight from the Pole has driven the airship eastwards. She has enough food on board for a fortnight, but her petrol supply is nearly exhausted. Anxiety is felt lest the Italia has been forced down on the sea or on the icy wastes of the Arctic. Advices via Copenhagen state that a heavy storm is still raging at Kings Bay to-night. It is also stated that General Nobili sent a message to the effect that all the propellers of the If alia were not be ing used. The supply ship Citta di Milano is being prepared to go to meet the airship, but it is not considered likely that sho will make much progress. According to other advices General Nobili said he expected to reach Kings Bay at 10 p.m. yesterday, but if the storm prevented him landing there he would try to reach Vadso. According to earlier reports, the Italia had met with heavy winds and was greatly hampered by ice forming on her canvas. The danger involved in that is not disguised. A message from Oslo says the Italian Minister requested the Norwegian Government to render its utmost aid in an effort to find and rescue the Italia and her crew. The Government is taking up the search, and the Defence Ministry is consulting experts.