HOPES TO SWIM STRAIT

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1930, Page 9

HOPES TO SWIM STRAIT

MERCEDES OLEITZE ARRIVES

CAREFUL PREPARATIONS PLANNED

LENGTH OF VISIT INDEFINITE.

By Telegraph.—-Press Association.

Wellington, Last Night. No time is to be wasted by Miss Mercedes Gleitze, famous long-distance swimmer,- in making preparations for her proposed swim across Cook Strait. She said on her arrival by the Corinthic to-day that she would begin making inquiries to-morrow about tides, currents and different factors involved in the attempt. _ . “No' matter what I am told previously alioi.it -the conditions at the place,” she said, “whenever ! go for a swim I go on what local pilots tell me. No One knows as much as they do about tides and currents, I shall talk with fishermen and other- people who know what your coasts are like.” ' Miss ' Gleitze said emphatically that she had-Conie to swim Cook Strait and would not easily be discouraged. She did not know how long she would stay, in New Zealand, and explained she could not express an opinion oil this until she had-more local knowledge. When she ■Went to swim the Straits of Gibraltar she' made plans for a fortnight, but stayed four months.