The Star. FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1925. THE RETURN OF AMUNDSEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17568, 19 June 1925, Page 6

The Star. FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1925. THE RETURN OF AMUNDSEN.

The news of Captain Amundsen's return to Spitzbcrgen with liis companions will send a thrill throughout the world to-day because of the very great suspense caused by the absence of news since the iligbt commenced. It is exactly four weeks since Amundsen and his five companions flew off from Spitzbcrgen on a flight that would have carried them over the North Pole in eight hours in still weather. The actual base, was reckoned to be 687 miles from the Pole, and Amundsen’s plans were worked out with such nicety that he reckoned on flying ninety-three miles an hour outward, anti slightly less on the return journey. But hopefully as the expedition was entered upon, the nonreturn of the explorers, even after the first week, filled the world with a grave foreboding that perhaps another secret, like that of Andree and bis balloon expedition, had been added to the record of Arctic exploration. For instance. Captain Hammer, 1 lie Danish aviator, who had flown within 100 miles of the Pole, and who had returned with terrifying aerial photographs of Ihe ice and snow in that region, declared that Amundsen had only one chance in a hundred of getting back to safety. Hut Captain Hammer’s experience could not be set against that of the hardy Norseman, who had achieved the distinction of being first at the South Pole, and whose ambition was set on tile still greater honour of North Polar conquests. Act it was Amundsen’s alternative plans that saved him, for it appears that he had to walk back, alter all, and his success in this enterprise must lie set against: his failure, for the time being, to reach, the goal oi his ambition. As it is. lie lias turned defeat into victory, for few persons, yesterday, would have been prepared to give him much chance of reaching safety on foot. Indeed, predictions have been general that, if the party had to return on foot, they would be held up by water and stretches of ice, iu which their canoes would be of little avail. No doubt the explorer will go down in history as “Lucky Amundsen,” hut it can he said for him that in all Ids preparations he has left nothing whatever to chance, and his two expeditions will always be regarded as wonderful models of organisation. One can imagine the rejoicing that there will be throughout Norway to-day at the achievements of this intrepid son of the North, and British people will he proud to claim a distant acquaintance with the nation that has so groat Iv distinguished itself in this regard. The story of the flight, the abandonment of the ’planes, and the long trudge back will add a very moving chapter to the history of Arctic exploration, and later details of the expedition will lie awaited eagerly.