THE CHELYUSKIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22250, 26 October 1935, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE CHELYUSKIN

EPIC ARCTIC ADVENTURE Little over two years ago a party of scientists and explorers from Soviet Russia set out on the steamer Chelyuskin with the object of making the north Siberian passage from the Baltic to Vladivostock. Three months later when almost through the Behring Straits, but imbedded in strong ice the ship commenced a northerly drift and in February of last year she sank, crushed by huge waves of ice, leaving her crew of 104 men and women stranded on the floes iu the worst of the Arctic winter. The subsequent rescue of so large a party by aeroplanes formed one of the most thrilling incidents in the history of the exploration of the higher latitudes, and the fact that it was accomplished with no loss of life speaks volumes for the bravery of all concerned and the skilful organisation by the Soviet Government. The details of the voyage and what followed are now made available in '• The Voyage of the Chelyuskin," a volume that must be unique in Arctic literature in that it is made up entirely of short descriptions by individual members of the scientific party and the crew. Each has chosen some phase of the story that concerned him most intimatelv, and scientists, stokers, engineers and radio-operators have sketched the problems of life on board the vessel, the anxious hours as the ice menace grew-, and the dangers and hardships of the period between the sinking of the ship and their ultimate rescue. The story brings out most strikingly the place of radio and aeroplane in a new technique of Arctic navigation, whereby open water could be located in time to make the fullest use of the knowledge. After the disaster constant contact was maintained with the outside world, and this was undoubtedly entirely responsible for the efficiency of the rescue work. Aerodromes were constructed on the ice, and aeroplanes that had come from Russia and Alaska were guided to their humane task. Meanwhile men, women and even children played their part cheerfully, keeping physically fit and even continuing the educational and scientific work as if they were still on board a well-found ship. There are many dramatic incidents in the story as it is told by such a wide variety of narrators. Professor Schmidt, the leader of ■'jhe expedition, speaks feelingly of the actual loss of the ship; Captain Voronin, veteran of icenavigation, appropriately tells of the dramatic moment before the final impact. Others describe the unloading of stores, the erection of a wireless station in a blizzard, and the various phases of scientific work continued without a break right up to the final rescue, while each of the airmen tells his own particular story, involving the crossing of continents to the far northeast corner of Asia.

The vovage itself, the loss of the ship crushed in gigantic ice floes, the fortitude of it 3 company during the weeks that followed and the subsequent hanny termination with all hands safely transported by air to the mainland are admirably described in "The Voyage of the Chelyuskin." The hook is a translation by Alec Brown and is beautifully illustrated by photographs, many of which must hare Keen taken under the most extreme difficulties. It a notable contribution to Arctic literature and an intensely human document.

Voyage, of the Chelyuskin." (Chatto and Hindus.}