KING’S MESSAGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17570, 22 June 1925, Page 10

KING’S MESSAGE.

PRAISE FOR AMUNDSEN. r.y Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aus. & N.Z. Cable Association. OSLO. June 19. King Haakon sent the following message to Captain Amundsen: “I welcome you and your comrades, and thank you for what you have achieved, and for adding further honour to vour countrv’s name.” The King, in a special address to Cabinet, said lie regarded the achievement ns one of ilia greatest in his reign. VIA NORTH POLE. LONDON’, June 20. 'Flio ‘Daily Telegraph” says that Captain Amundsen’s adventure suggests that, the time may come when men', flying over the North Pole, will reach Japan in little over a couple of days. SCIENTISTS’ CONCLUSIONS. Aus. X.Z. Cable Association. OSLO, June 20. One of the chief scientific results of Captain Amundsen’s observations was a record of the extensive masses of mist which existed in the .Polar regions. It, hitherto, had been believed that these mists were only local phenomena. A wide ocean exists north or Spitz- ( bergou and the explorer recorded :t depth of 37G0 metres, which has fed to the conclusion that an ocean exists in the .triangle between Spitsbergen, tiie North Pole and North Greenland. WIFE’S ANXIETY ALLAYED. Aus. &. X.Z. Cable Association. OSLO, June 21. The wives of the aviators. 1? riser Larsen and Deitrichsen, arc the heroines of the day. Mrs Riisor Larsen said her husband, before hi.s departure, staled that u hen lie returned he would wire one word, “ Sunshine.” “ Yesterday Captain Amundsen’s representative telephoned, asking me to come down town,” she said. “ * Good news,’ 1 asked. ‘Sunshine.’ lie replied.” Mrs lliisor Larsen said: i never doubted that my husband would return, for he always said ho believed the flight would succeed. When Captain Amundsen's representative telephoned ‘ sunshine ’ I could do nothing but sit down and try to realise what it meant. Then T remembered, and the practical precaution was taken of sentencing children to remain the rest of the day behind locked doors, in order that the news should not be spoilt for the newspapers, but I could not possibly keep the glad tidings from the children that their father was alive and returning home. How could I?” Otto Sverdrup, Polar explorer, said: “ The chief value of the flight is the confirmation that our theories of the Polar basin were correct.” Sverdrup added: “ There is no land near the Pole, and the condition of ice makes the landing of aeroplanes impossible. Amundsen had to come down in a water lane, and those who know the caprices of polar ice realise,how dangerous this is. Amundsen's aviators knew, and the landing was, therefore, the more admirable. Certainly there is the deepest disappointment that thev did not reach the Pole. Prom a sporting viewpoint the flight was glorious, but, apart from that, further wide experiences have been gained for future use oi" aeroplanes in the polar regions.” Replying to further questions, Sverdrup said lie believed others would now try to reach the Pole by aeroplane, but he pointed out that the North Pole was more difficult than the South Pole. Sverdrup continued: “ T believe the best way to read) the North Pole is to go by ship as far as possible, then with sledges and clogs to the Pole and back to the ship. Far more extensive experience must be gathered, if the attempt is to be made to fly to the Pole, in regard to landing on ice or snow. The best way would be to stay ior a .'’car or so at the northernmost point of Spitsbergen studying the circumstances, but that would cost lots of money and time, and the latter is 1 impossible in the light of the modern race for the Pole.” GEESE IN FAR NORTH. VALUABLE INSTRUMENTS LEFT BEHIND. LONDON'. June iUA message from the Heim dal relates how the airmen made a start homewards. A course was laid to Yerlegenhook. and when the north coast of Spitsbergen came in sight it was evident that Riisor Larsen’s piloting and Deitrichsen's navigating had both been perfect. Owing to the strong wind, the course was set towards North Cape. As the stabilisation rudders had become immovable. however, making it impossible to stabilise the plane, Riisor Larsen determined to descend into the sea about forty kilometres north of N'oHli Cape. After skimming the water for an hour, the plane was moored to an iceberg in Fugle Bay. Captain Amundsen, during the flight, sat next to Omdal and Foucht on the petrol tank, with a view to lightening the plane. Scientific instruments, valued at £BOO, had to be left, behind. These, together with surplus equipment and stores, I were placed in plane X 24, though it is most unlikely that the plane will ever A bundle of letters was deposited in the petrol tank, which is very light, and may be discovered some vears hence. The explorers relate that they saw bearded seals, also auks and two geese, wh’ob hs* most interesting, as hitherto it has been assumed that no animal hie exists north of latitude So degrees.