SEARCH FOR LOST AIRMEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20312, 10 January 1936, Page 9

SEARCH FOR LOST AIRMEN

PROGRESS OF VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY

ELLSWORTH BELIEVED SAFE

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 9, 10.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 9 The Minister of Defence (Hon. R. A. Parkhill) has received a message from the Discovery II stating that the weather continues fine. The vessel has now crossed the Antarctic circle, and open water is ahead. The aircraft and the Moth engine are being overhauled. The sledge has been tried out, and emergency rations have been prepared for the Wapiti.

NORWEGIAN CONSUL’S VIEWS BELIEVES FLYERS ARE SAFE By Telegraph—Press Association INVERCARGILL, January 9 Mr M. E. Wlig, Norwegian Consul at Bluff, states that the absence of radio signals from Mr Lincoln Ellsworth does not necessarily mean tragedy. His theory is that the flyers will be found safe in Little America, in such a position that successful transmission of radio messages would be impossible. Mr Wiig bases his calculation on the experience of the old Sir Clark Ross in those waters during the 1927-28 whaling season. The position was that the ship was held up in the ice, and all about her were immense icebergs, and these, being higher than the vessel’s masts, had completely “blanketed” her wireless.

Mr Wiig is the surveyor of shipping in the South Island for Norway, and with the assistance of an expert, the Consul inspected the radio equipment on the Wyatt Earp. At Mr Ellsworth’s invitation, Mr Wiig had a look at the small radio set the explorer was taking with him for use on his flight from the base.

“Remembering the wireless experience of the Sir James Clark Ross, Mr Ellsworth’s silence is readily understandable,” Mr Wiig said. “My own idea is that he and his companion are safe in an igloo of their own construction, and will be found eventually by one of the searching parties. Let us hope that relief will not be too long delayed.”