TO THE NORTH POLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 April 1925, Page 5

TO THE NORTH POLE.

BY AEROPLANE.

AMUNDSEN’S ADVENTURE. .’ress Association—Electric Telegraph —Copyright (Received Wednesday, 9.30 a.m.) OSLO, Tuesday. A salute to the adventurers was fired by the coast artillery when the Norwegian naval auxiliary Era in left Horten for Spitzbcrgen with Amundsen and party who are setting out to reach the North Pole. Amundsen declares that his success in reaching the South Pole 33 years ago was a trivial matter compared with the efforts he made on the ship’s drift with the current towards the North Pole. “Never again will I attempt a voyage by sea, ’t he stilted. “’This occasion means that I will get there by air.” A copy of the programme left with the Government authorities has underlined in red ink the part in which he states that he will land exactly at the Pole within ten hours of setting out from Danskeof Isle.

Interviewed, Amundsen said, “I have all that can be desired in material, men and money. My faith in success is of the deepest. The journey 7 may hold terrors in the ratified atmosphere of which the scientist and explorer is unaware and which may be insurmountable, but if I fail something will be added to the sum of human knowledge. If I succeed a new vision may be opened to'tho world of a great new trade and passenger route laid round the neck of the earth.” From Danskeof to the Pole is 708 miles. Although ten hours has been allowed by Amundsen he hopes to accomplish the flight in eight hours. Ilis seaplanes are built throughout of aluminium. Amundsen has insisted on British engines, navigational and height instruments. The flight may bo commenced on April 26th. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. CROSS POLE FLIGHTS. (Received Wednesday, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, Tuesday. From the Pole, Amundsen intends to attempt to fly to Alaska. He will also explore the polar region for an aerodrome site to enable crossPole flights connecting London and Japan within 50 hours. —Sun.