FLYING ACROSS ARCTIC.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15998, 28 May 1924, Page 5

FLYING ACROSS ARCTIC.

STEFANSSON'S VIEWS.

United Press Association. Received May 28, 11.30 a.m. SYDNEY, Mav 2S

Commander Stefansson, the explorer, speaking of Arctic aviation, said it was mostly an antiquated belief that prevented the development of flying (here. People thought it was too cold but there was no place at the sea level in the Arctic that was below freezing ooinl at midsummer, and even in Winter it was no colder than the City of Winfnpcg. in some places the heat reached 100 in the shade. Commander Stefansson predicted that Within fen years there would be an airship service across the Arctic from London to Toluo on a north and then a south route. Me said that by following a lino north lo Edinburgh along ihe Scottish coast, and straight lrom there to the south-west corner of Norway, thence along the w.est coast to the northern lip. then across Nova Zembla 'South to the Lena River md diagonally across Eastern Siberia to Japan an aviator would cover the '15,000 miles in 4j days There were no mountains to fly over and the longest jump was 1100 miles. Supplies could be easily delivered at stations by the freighting methods.now an use:

Commander Stefansson holds a high opinion of the possibilities of the Arctic as a reindeer meal-producing area, lie said the United States had a station In Greenland, and the export stage had Just been reached. Nearly all the meat was going to a few large American towns, where lit sold at a. high figure. y