THE POLAR FLIGHT.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1925, Page 3

THE POLAR FLIGHT.

[Reuters Teleorams.l NO NEWS YET. (Received tl is (lay at 10.25 a.in.) OSLO, .May 25. A message from Spitzliergen gives no news of Amundsen. This morning the Hobby returned from Wellman Ray, having patrolled north and east of Danes Island. She found the ice conditions difficult. Members of the expedition are somewhat depressed at Amundsen’s failure to return. If the aeroplane is damaged the aviators will have a long and dangerous journey hack. The weather is cloudy with a raw temperature he low zero. The Captain of the Frnm saw from Amsterdam Island open water northwards where the aeroplanes might, come flown. ANOTHER VIEW. LONDON, May 2(1. Commander Pcstrud, naval attache at the Norwegian Legation, who accompanied Amundson in his South Pole expedition in 1912, interviewed by the “Evening Standard’s” correspondent said lie was ul the opinion that there was no present cause lor anxiety. He regarded the calculations of the distances and probable living times as unreliable as Derby trips, lie preferred to examine the possibilities. Amundsen had too good Italian machines lilted with reliable Rolls-Rovee engines. When he left they flew so well that they disappeared in live minutes. Assuming everything went well they would reach the Pule” in live or six hours, but what woiiuld lmpoen then. W hen Amundsen was at the Smith Pole lie took two days to verily Ids position. He had to send six men twenty-live to fifty miles for directions to make necessary

calculations. Amundson must similarly prove that lie has actually reached the North Pole. He might he hft.v or seventy-live miles away in the lirst instance. Amundsen would certainly not leave before he had made the necessary /calculations without which the results would be regarded as scientifically valueless. The calculations might occupy two or tbree days owinjjj to cloudy wcutlioi.