MEASURES FOR RELIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19976, 19 June 1928, Page 9

MEASURES FOR RELIEF.

NUMEROUS EXPEDITIONS. WEATHER CONDITIONS BAD. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. LONDON, June 17. The condition of the scattered crew of the airship Italia in the Arctic regions is not known at present. However, the efforts to rescue them by means of aeroplanes and steamers are making splendid progress. The seaplane of Commandant Mtddalena, the Italian airman, had almost reached Bear Island off the south-western coast of Spitsbergen, when it was forced back by fog. It will again attempt to reach Spitsbergen to-morrow. A Swedish seaplane has arrived at Narvik and a Finnish Junkers seaplane has reached Tromso. Major Guilbaud's seaplane arrived at Bergen and picked up Captain Amundsen and they have left for Spitsbergen. A wireless message from the steamer Braganza says she is now about six miles east of Cape North and the Hobby is near her. A heavy fall of snow and the fog on Saturday prevented a flight from the former ship and the conditions are still bad. A message from Rome says Commander Sansouetti, of the Ministry of Marine, informed journalists that Italy had no illusions about the gravity of the disaster to the Italia but the organisation of relief was a question of time. Ho said the Hobby and the Braganza look like penetrating beyond the usual Arctic limits. Commander Sansonetti considers that in the Italian rescue effort the airmen v.ill have- to face great risks. They must cover at least 600 miles in a non-stop flight in heavy aeroplanes and there is considerable risk if they attempt to make a landing. It is considered that the Russian ice-breaker, now en route to the Arctic, will penetrate farthest toward the castawavs.