TIME TO SEARCH

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12151, 30 May 1925, Page 5

TIME TO SEARCH

AMUNDSEN’S PARTY ALARMED NORWAY MAY SEND RELIEF ’PLANES HEAVY WEATHER REPORTED By Telegraph.—Preed Assn.—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. .(Received May 29, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 29. The following message, received in London at 1 a.m., dramatically indicates that a change in the weather has precipitated action at Spitzbergen, and that tho search for Captain Amundsen has begun:— A copyright wireless from the Fram, at 7 p.m., states: “The tension here is increasing. The weather is threatening, clouds are hiding the mountains, and heavy snow is falling. Tho Hobby has been dispatched to patrol the ice-edge in accordance with Amundsen’s instructions in case of ball weather.” A special message to the Copenhagen “Politiken” from its Oslo correspondent states that tho Norwegian Air Shipping Union lias decided to ask theGovernment to dispatch two naval airplanes to Spitzbergen to assist in film search. Tho union previously tele graphed for the opinion of Lieutenant Horgen, the expedition’s reserve pilot, and Horgen replied that the searchshould begin a fortnight after the start, as arranged by Amundsen. Grettir Algarasson, in an interview at Liverpool, states that he is in negotiation for the purchase of an airplane

for use if he goes to Amundsen’s relief. “It appears that we will have to relinquish our intended flight to Alaska, and concentrate on the rescue of Amundsen. I think he is in difficulties. We ought to act quickly. It seems to me clear that he has abandoned his ’planes.”

GUSTAV NOT ANXIOUS

(Received May 29, 9.45 p.m.) OSLO, 'May 28. Gustav Amundsen, who assisted in the preparation for the flight to the Pole, says. he . would have been disappointed if his brother had returned immediately after reaching the Pole. He believes his brother landed 7$ miles from the Pole, and that the march there would oocupy three days, and it would take a similar time to get back to the base. This, with the time spent at the Pole and the return night, would moan ten days; therefore he considers Sunday the earliest time he could ho expected back at Spitsbergen. Amundsen, however, may spend a longer time at the Pole, because he desired to do things thoroughly, “Therefore,” says Guatav, “I shall not be anxious if he fails to return before the middle of next week.” Amundsen, he thought, would certainly return by the same route. * here. was no possibility of his returning via Alaska. Should the machines be wrecked the only thing to do would be to walk to Cape Columbia. The Norweigian Aero Club discussed preparations for aerial relief for Amundsen. Experts contended it was too early to send rescuers, and that in any. case an airship .would bo useless. Flying-boats or an ice-ship would he best. It was pointed out that Amundsen might have encountered mist,, and had been unable to use his sun-' compass, in which event he would have drifted and landed a long way from the Pole, and would have lost time and petrol in rectifying the error. ’ Mr Bilatz, head of the Dernier works, where Amundsen’s airplanes were made, says: “So far everything has gone according to programme. Wo never expected Amundsen ,to return in less than a week or a fortnight.”