A VAIN QUEST

Wairarapa Age, 1 June 1928, Page 5

A VAIN QUEST

BAD WEATHER AND NO NEWS OF ITALIA. CITTA DI MILANO RETURNS TO KING’S BAY. PROGRESS BARBED BY ICE. United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. KING’S BAY, May 30. The Citta di Milano returned at midnight. She received no message from the Italia. A strong wind was blowing from the north, and. it was snowing and very cold.—(Australian Press Association.—United Service.) A HUGE BARRIER. ICE PILED UP BY WIND. SEARCH BY LAND. (Received Thursday, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. A wireless message from the Citta di Milano, at King’s Bay, states: “Our efforts to reach Verlegenhoek, at the extreme north of the Friesland promontory, failed od-ing to the ice barrier which the north wind raised on the northern coast of Spitzbergen. We hoped until Sunday to reach our goal, for the Citta di Milano was steaming at a fair speed. Despite the vast number of immenso ice blocks driven by the wind, and also snow squalls, which often blotted out all visibility, there still remained a sufficient channel of clear water to squeeze through. Suddenly a white dyke loomed ahead. The pilot climbed to the topmast, seeking a way round, but returned and reported that a further advance was impossible. The captain ordered - the ship to turn about when we were between Spitzbergen and Danes’ Island. Meanwhile we had prepared a land search party under Kramer, an experienced hunter and trapper. Only four men were available, but all of them were skilled mountaineers and noted ski experts. Their object was to reach Mossel Bay, via trappers’ stations. The north coast is a most rugged and broken region.. The party, as it proceeded, was to enlist the assistance of all trappers in the Wilde Bay area. . Before proceeding, they were -to make a reconnaissance in the direction of North Friesland, communication with the Citta di Milano being maintained by messengers using the South Gate, or Green Harbour, as their headquarters. Other search parties are also being arranged. AU hopes and plans are based on the assumption that General Nobile has been stranded off the Friesland coast, or on the west coast of North-East Land.—(Australian Press Association.—United Service.) “INSULT TO NORWAY.” CABLEGRAMS FROM MUSSOLINI RESENTED. (Received 'Thursday, 7.30 pm) LONDON, May 30. Oslo correspondent of the Daily News” states that “Insult to the Norwegian Government” is how the “Morgenbladet” described Signor Mussolini’s personal cablegram to the Italian Minister that Norwegian help in the search “is at present not required.” The paper adds: “Italy should apologise, seeing how promptly Norway has already acted.” Advices from Riga state that the Soviet Aviation Department has decided to organise an urgent relief expedition. Icebreakers and hydroplanes have already left Archangel.—(Australian Press Association.)