FATE OF ITALIA

Southland Times, Issue 20498, 29 May 1928, Page 7

FATE OF ITALIA

NO DEFINITE NEWS SIGNALS UNANSWERED FORCED DESCENT FEARED PROBABLE LANDING IN SIBERIA (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) ‘ London, May 27. Suspense concerning the 'fate of the Italia with a crew of 18 and a dog on board continues. The last fully authenticated wireless message from the airship was timed at seven o’clock on Friday evening, but early this morning two round-about messages reached London and are transmitted reservedly. One from Berlin says that the Oslo Meteorological Institute intercepted a mutilated message from General Nobile saying that he had landed and was calling for help. The message does not give his position. It is rather strange that this was not received direct from Oslo whence plenty of messages arrived earlier. The second message from Vadso reported that the Italia sent a wireless for a supply ship at 10.5 on Saturday night. This is also unconfirmed by Oslo. Obviously if one of the Italia’s motors ceased to function General Nobile would be unable to make King’s Bay through the storm. It is feared that it must now be being blown helplessly towards Siberia. It is recalled that when the Italia returned from her previous voyage in the direction ot Franz-Josef Land it had an ice-coating weighing nearly a ton. Therefore the possibility of the ship being forced down cannot be ignored and an ice-covered aerial would account for the cessation of messages. The Government has ordered the steamer Hobby, at present at Tromo, to proceed to Franz-Josef Land. It is stated that if General Nobile manages to make a safe landing on firm ice or in Siberia it may be several months before the news ?s received. The party’s only course would be to abandon the airship and journey afoot until it established contact with civilization. The Italians are ill-prepared to endure the rigours of Arctic life for a long period. The Vadso wireless stations have been trying all day without success to get in touch with the Italia.—Australian Press Association. S.O.S. CALLS HEARD. GARBLED MESSAGE PICKED UP. San Francisco, May 27. The San Francisco Radio Corporation of America and several amateur stations on the Pacific coast received S.O.S. calls purporting to be from the Italia. The calls failed to give the position of the ship, but said she was in distress and asked for immediate help. Calls in Italian and French were received clearly in San Francisco, but the message was somewhat garbled. Radio men here declared that the Italia had been in contact with St. Paul (Alaska), but the weather conditions prevent communication between St. Paul and San Francisco. The Italia’s purported message readj “C.Q. Ra O.E. dirigible of Nobile in distress and asking for help. She is supplied with a short wave 3033 metres radio.—General Nobile.” Australian Press Association. ANXIETY IN ITALY. RELIEF MEASURES UNDERTAKEN. (Rec. 8.45 p.m.) Rome, May 28. The public continues most anxious regarding the Italia. The absence of radio messages is the most disturbing feature, though a breakdown of the engines may account for the impossibility of communicating the present position. Mussolini is repeatedly in communication with Spitzbergen and is arranging measures of relief. Weather reports from the Arctic, however, are depressing. Captain Amundsen and Captain Sverdrup were dining with Captain Wilkins and Lieut. Eielson when a representative of the Norwegian Government entered the banqueting hall and asked their aid. This was the first intimation. Anxiety was felt and the four explorers immediately volunteered to give what assistance was in their power. —Australian Press Association. REPORT DISCREDITED. London, May 27. Both King’s Bay and Oslo report no further news of the Italia. A report from Ber lin that the Italia had landed and wirelessed for help is apparently unfounded.—Australian Press Association. HELP FROM RUSSIA. Moscow, May 27. The Government is sending an expedition to rescue the Italia. All the radio stations are signalling and listening-in, but no news has been received.—Australian Press Association. SEAPLANE TO SEARCH. Oslo, May 27. Probably a naval seaplane, piloted by the famous Lieutenant Leutzow Holm, will start a search for the Italia. A larger aeroplane will follow later. —Australian Press Association. WILKINS MAY ASSIST. (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) London, May 27. The Times’ Stockholm correspondent reports that the possibility of Captain Wilkins and Lieutenant Eielson participating in the search for the Italia with their aeroplane is being discussed. The proposal is hailed with delight at Rome. The Times’ Oslo correspondent states that Lieutenant Holms’ hydro-plane has been ordered to leave Horten on Monday for Tromso. It will then be taken northward in the steamer Hobby to a point whence it will begin a detailed search. Meanwhile an auxiliary expedition is being prepared.—Times Cables.