POLAR FLIGHT STORY IS CONTINUED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18544, 18 August 1928, Page 6

POLAR FLIGHT STORY IS CONTINUED.

EEHOUNEK APOLOGISES FOR GENERAL NOBILE. (United Preaa Atm.—By Elaetric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received August 18, 2.25 p.m.) LONDON', August 17. Professor Bchounek, continuing thd story of the Polar flight, says: An unfavourable winter, which cannot be foreseen, can defeat the best organised expedition, whereas favourable circumstances work wonders. A splendidly organised German expedition came to grief some years ago on the very ice-fields where we lived for a month without weapons, boots, medicines. Worsley, on the other hand, blithely sailed in a yacht through the very waters where the Krassin, the world’s biggest ice-breaker, smashed it« way towards us by superhuman efforts. Professor Behounek pays tributes to the bravery of the Italian engineers, Wateola and Albertini, the airmen Sora and van Dongen, Larsen. Ilolm, Lundborg and Professor Samoilovitoh and the others associated with the Krassin. He points out that the Norge flew 14,000 kilometres without accident, and would have been flying now if it had had a hanger in Alaska at the end of the flight. " The whole world praised it, and its inventor, General Nobile,” he adds. “The Italia was the same type of airship, and it was unfortunate that it was wrecked after two flights wherein W)00 kilometres entirely of Polar regions and 2000 over unexplored ierri torv were covered. Valuable scientific materials were saved, and yet widespread criticism has been levelled at Nobile, whose unhappiness was already great enough.” Professor Behounek says that he is still full of hope regarding Amundsen, Guilbaud and Dietrichson, de Cuber-. ville, Vallette and Brassey. and specially extols the tireless work and loyal comradeship of the wireless operator, Biagi.—"Times” Cables.