THE GRAF ZEPPELIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20832, 26 September 1929, Page 9

THE GRAF ZEPPELIN

FLIGHT OVER THE ARCTIC.

DR NANSEN TO BE LEADER. (United Press Association.) * (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, September 25. (Received Sept. 25, at 11.30 p.m.) ‘ “ I look upon the expedition as the most important in my career,” said Dr Nansen; who will lead the Graf Zeppelin, which will be lent to him by the German Government, to the North Pole in mid-April. The crew will he the same as that which accompanied the airship on i(a round-the-world tour, with Captain Lehmann as navigator, while there will be full arctic equipment, including 20 dogs and'vsledges. The Zeppelin will start from Tromso, and will fly westward over Spitzbergen and North Greenland to the mouth of the Mackenzie River, thence to Fairbanks, this stage occupying four or five days. After refuelling the airship will make a cruise of the Arctic regions for four or five days. 1 "... She will then return to. Fairbanks, and thence homeward, via Northern Siberia.

Dr Nansen hopes to determine the distribution of land and water in the Arctic Circle, and to map out any new land_ sighted. It is known that the Arctic PohT is situated in the ocean, but the depth of the ocean has not yet been properly measured. Dr Nansen explained that sea depths are measured by ari ingenious apparatus which is lowered from the air ship into any ice cracks or water lines that may be-found. He describes the expedition as a more, or less pioneer trip, which will probably lead to the establishment of a chain of permanent. ,and semi-permanent wire-lessly-equipped meteorological posts all rourid the Arctic Circle, incalculably assisting in forecasting of weather in Northern Europe and the British Isles. —United Service.