RESCUE FROM AIR OPPOSED

Southland Times, Issue 23438, 19 February 1938, Page 7

RESCUE FROM AIR OPPOSED

RUSSIAN SCIENTISTS ON ICE-FLOE RISK OF CRASH BELIEVED TOO GREAT (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 18, 6.30 p.m.) MOSCOW, February 17. M. Ivan Papanin, leader of the Soviet scientific expedition on the drifting icefloe, has decided that it is difficult to evacuate the party and the equipment by aeroplane and prefers to wait until the ice-breaker Taimyr makes contact with the ice-floe, or until the more powerful English-built ice-breaker Yermak arrives. M. Papanin explained that it was possible that the load of the light aeroplanes carried by the Taimyr and the Murman would be much reduced if they had to take off from a small, rough icefloe. Therefore many return trips would be necessary, with proportionate risk of a crash or a breakdown.' One aeroplane was flying towards the Scientists’ camp today when it was forced down by a snowstorm and its radio disabled. The second aeroplane found the other and rescued the pilots in very difficult conditions. The Murman later picked up the abandoned aeroplane;