THE ITALIA SURVIVORS

Otago Witness, Issue 3882, 7 August 1928, Page 32

THE ITALIA SURVIVORS

JOURNEY THROUGH GERMANY.

TRAIN HOOTED AT BERLIN. BERLIN, July 31. .. General Nobile's train departed from Nuremberg to the accompaniment of hoots and catcalls after a brief halt at the station. Members of the Italian colony among the big crowd shouted for fair play.

GERMAN MEMBER OF I’ARTY. LONDON? July 31. Herr Behounek, ' efore departing for Prague, made the following statement: — “ Irresponsible rumours, which arc unjust to General Nobile and the expedition, has necessitated Signor Mussolini ordering an inquiry. Immediately we fell from the airship General Nobile's first words as he lay covered in blood and almost unconscious were that he was glad I- was unhurt. He took charge of the smallest details, although the most injured of all. The Italia comrades were a band of brothers and heroes. Signor Ccccioni was the Robinson Crusoe of the red tent camp. -Though injured to immobility, he never ceased to help: He re-established the radio, made us all felt slippers, fashioned kitchen utensils from the most desperate materials, and made a precious grill on which bear meat was cooked. When the radio wire would not stick he prevented a fatal breakdown by using tinfoil from a sardine tin, soldering the wire O’-er the kitchen stove he built. He even made the sleigh on which he transported to the Krassin Trojani, the philosophic engineer. Whene’er the wireless brought good news we became as gay as schoolboys, and General Nobile gave each a malted milk lozenge. Signor Biagi was a fresh air fiend. He never slept in the tent, but placed his sleeping bag under the wing of Lundborg's aeroplane and slumbered happily. He discovered in the morning polar bears’ footprints all around. Almost daily he lengthily explored ice canals in a little dinghy. Professor Malmgren, two nights before his departure, expounded to the whole party his idea of marching to the North Cape. All except Commanders Zappi and Mariano opposed the scheme, but General Nobile eventually yielded owing to Professor Malmgren’s reputation in polar exploit. Professor Malmgren, on the eve of departure, seemed less confident, and told me in German, which nobody else understood, ‘ I feel yon will be rescued and we lost.’ I offered to write to his mother if we were rescued first.”

WELCOME AT THE FRONTIER. ROME, July 31.

General Nobile and the other survivors of the Italia were enthusiastically welcomed when the train crossed the fron.tier. At Trento crowds sang Fascist songs and threw flowers, giving expression to the public determination to compensate them for their sufferings and support their fight against their caluminators. The prefect of Bolzano conveyed Italy’s greetings on behalf of Signor Mussolini, but Verona’s welcome was even more enthusiastic, including greetings on behalf of the navy. ARRIVAL AT ROME. ROME, August 1. Over 100,000 welcomed General Nobile and his party like triumphal heroes. EXPEDITION DEFENDED. ROME, August 3. General Nobile, in an exclusive interview granted to the British United Press, proudly defended the Italia expedition. Throughout the talk he displayed a proud, haughty spirit, and was ready to challenge anyone attempting to discredit it. He said that the expedition was worth all the suffering and sacrifices owing to the wealth of scientific and geographical research it will give to the., world. No polar expedition in history had accomplished scientifically as much. “We succeeded, 1 ’ he said. “We need no I repeat we accomplished our purpose fully. We flew 243 hours, of which 134 were spent in flying over the polar regions. We encountered meteorological difficulties which tested the fibre of every man. We overcame a thousand difficulties, and had we continued for three hours the flight would have been the most complete of any Arctic venture. The mishap to the Italia was unforeseeable.”

THE RUSSIAN RELIEF PARTY. MOSCOW, August 3.

Professor Vise, leader of the Russian expedition aboard the Malygin, has arrived, and he is the only expert who is hopeful for Captain Amundsen. He believes that the veteran landed in a region where there are bears and reindeer, and Jiis expert knowledge would enable him to maintain life for - a year. GENERAL NOBILE VINDICATED. ROME, August 4. Captain Lundberg, who rescued General Nobile, has written to General Nobile regretting unjust press comments. He says: “ I desire to establish the tijuth. You desired me first to take Signor Ceccioni. It was only after insistent and repeated pleading by Signor Viglieri and others that you consented to eome first in accordance with my orders.”