POLAR FLIGHT.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18419, 27 June 1925, Page 15

POLAR FLIGHT.

DIETRICHSEN'S STORY.

(BY CABLE—rBESS association—comuoHT.) IACSTHALIAN A.ND S.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION'.)

LONDON. Juno £5,

A wireless message from tho Hoimdal at Spitsbergen states that oxtrncts from tho diary of Lieut. Lief Dietriehscn, \>int of tho second 'piano, N24. eompleto Captain Amundsen's story of tho dash to tho Polo by air. ''Wo wore astonished," says tho diary, "at tho extent and sizo of tho paek-ico when wo began to descend, as everything had seemed better from above. Immediately wo landed wo saw that it would bo exceedingly difficultto return, as tho iec was continually moving. Wo saw where N25 had landed, so wo waited to seo if it roso again, as wo dared not leavo our own 'plane, which was leaking seriously, and Oskar Omdal, tho mechanic, was repairing a jammed exhaust pipe. "Throughout tho night Lincoln Ellsworth and I wcro kept pumping, but at noon on Juno 23rd wo saw a flag flying two miles away, which raisod our spirits. In tho evening wo communicated by moans of Mags, and learned that N23 was frozen in 20 metres from tho ice-lane. "Wo then tried to raise N2t on lo tho ico flow in order to avoid tho tiring task of pumping, as tho leakage was increasing. Wo succeeded in raising tho 'piano on Juno 27th, when Ellsworth and I tried to reach >"20; but wo turned back after seven hours' march, realising that it was impossible. Wo wei'o very exhausted. '•Einally wo reached N2o on Juno 27th. During tho crossing Omdal and I wcro saved from, drowning by a prompt rescue by Ellsworth—ho is a sport. N25 is now moored in Snail Bay at Spitzborgen, and is quite capable of I future flights.

HONOURS FOR LEADERS. (AUSTRALIAN AND X.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received Juno 26th, 5.5 p.m.) OSLO, Juno 25. Tlio King has conferred on Captain Amundsen the gold medal for good citizenship. The Order has been conferred only thrice. Mr Ellsworth has boon created a Commander of Saint Olav.