AMUNDSEN.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1925, Page 3

AMUNDSEN.

EXPLORER'S WFJ.COM ED. [Australia A* N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, June 19. A further copyright message from the "I leimdal,' ’ at Spitsbergen, states: “There was a dramatic scene when Amundsen returned to King’s Bay. Crowds gathered on the Quay at about 10 p.m. to witness the J Leimdal arrive. When through a misty haze the Norwegian sealer slowly entered the harbour, under the faint gle.m of the midnight, sun, many men were seen on deck. Suddenly, some aboard tho “llohhy" shouted: “It's Amundsen.” Deafening cheers greeted the exploiei and then we hurst into song, singing the National Anthem.’ Slowly, from the tired and worn out explorers, we were able to obtain their story, but, even before they began, ue could see how they had suH'ercd.”

“Amundsen states that tin* occupants of the two planes were separated for a long period, during hieli Ellsworth saved Dietnchscu and Omtlti from drowning. Whilst Amundsen and Riiser were on the other side ot the ico lane, they heard tries tor help. They were unable to assist, owing to drift ice making it. impossible to effect a crossing in their canvas boats.”

NORWEGIAN JT-BTI.ATION. OSLO, June 19. Amundsen’s return was not announced here until 10 p.m., when crowds paraded the streets, cheering and singing. LONDON ELATED. LONDON. June 10. Tho news of Amundsen's safety was welcomed most heartily. .1 he f.tet. overshadows even tlie Security I’aet in mo,l of the newspapers. OSLO. June 10. The Norwegian Government has telegraphed to Amundsen as follows: “Congratulate von and brave companions on wonderlul journey ! Welcome home!’’ STORY OF FLIGHT. LONDON, June IS. A copyright radio message from Captain Amundsen states Ik* is aboard the “Heimda!” at SpitzJ.ergen. The message says :--“Our planes left King’s Bay on May lllst. with a load approximating three tons. On our way to Amsterdam Islands tests were carried out oil both planes, which concluded satisfactorily, and hence, according to plans the (light proceeded. We encountered a log at Syilgal. so we rase to a height of 3100 feet, in order to navigate by the aid oi the sol.u

compasses. For the next two hours we pew continuously over log. which V.e did mil leave behind until eight in the evening. For the remainder ol the journey, the visibility was excellent. Observations showed that at 10 o clock wc were too far west and probably this was due to north-easi winds blowing above the fog. hut we could not possibly observe the deviation in

course. Onr course was then laid Bother to the east,, until at 1 o’clock on the morning of May ’2-nd. when half ,uii- petrol was eon sinned. Wc thcicfore decided to attemm to descend in ■ irdcr to secure definite hearings, with :1 view to continuing our flight. We then were above a large bine in the

ice which was the lir-t f this size to he encountered. We ilew lower, .observing the surrounding ice and noting the danger of a sudden block in the ice lone. Not one during the trio had we seen a suitable place to land. Neither was there one here. So s,.ended on water in the ire hum. Hut

('ears regarding tlie lies •mil- wore Jlot grottmlWs. ns Plane N 25 inimviliately after lauding became blocked between i, mass of ice. \\ hi!-? trying to get the plane dear U the ire lane we I'tjUinl that 1111- plane hail frown tight, and gripped the other plane. N'-M. Observations during the night disclosed inr position a- latitu.le SMI. hme,--tude ll)-2il west. The distance herofore covered in mir eight hours’ 11 inht ,v:es exactly lOiXf kilometres. or 025 miles, at an average speed d 750 kiloineires an hour. Hut for a head v.ind. we would have got t«o hundred kilometres further. We look two soundmax. which indicated a depth of water metres. In the following days we studied the drift < olidi t inns. We observed the magnetic variation and the metecrolieieal situation. Whilst we were living northwards tie observed area of about one hundred thousand square kilometres reach iug to 88-:t.) degrees north without any indteation of land in view. Trout the depth disclosed hy ottr soundings we also think it is most intprohahle that , land will he found further north on this side of the Norwegian Andie Ocean. | tut: UETTIiX .IOI'UNEY. I.OXDOX. dnne Ph Continuing his account. Amundsen stated: "We (ante to the conclusion that there were no grounds for asstimj 1I >r the conditions to he such as Lo permit a landing further north., and that to land at the Pole, with an opportunity to take observations or soundwon I* l l»(‘ impossible. V\ cunj side red that only to Hy over the Pole, without taking accurate observations of what possibly is merely ice. o.u no real eemilieaneo. and was not worth taking ureal risks. We agreed, tl,crime. instead of continuing Inrthei iioi-l !i to lay a return course turlher east in order to cross hitherto undiscovered tracts. With our 'planes leelde,eked, and with the difficulty so raisin- them, into the air. the situal.on was acute. Willi a view to their lastin'.' ns |,,„e as possible, the daily ra- , lions were drastically curtailed. V. e . concent rated all our energies m gettine plane X 25 clear. Ihmug the toleuine 21 days. we experienced all kinds of difficulties, owing to the earn,rios of the tickle Arctic Ocean. Kvo„ Ilia ll.v. plane XW was freed alter the ereatest exertion. '1 he plane slicmt.d mens of Strain, hut it was rigged, heiii"' praelieall v undamaged I rom the pack" ice to a starling l'lm e which we had levelled some distance away. On .June l tth. cracks opened in the tee. which threatened to remove mu-thud of our work' on the ice. •■On the morning of dune 10. witaout attempting to lengthen the levelled spot, trials were made with a greatly reduced load, nearly the whole cf the equipment being discarded. V*e k"|d only a few stores and a minminm quantity of petrol, to enable us to proceed southwards. Vie succeeded m , v e 1 tiie r awav, and a course was set for a spot indicated. At 10-10 a.in., m foe.' we reached North Cape, alter nn exciting light partly through Xortheast band, the flight occupying eight hours and thirty-live minutes.'’ ’PI.AXE SAFELY LAX DEO. LONDON. .Tune 19. Amundsen continued: "'e then ' landed, and awaiting favourable winds | for a continuation of our flight, with . our remaining l-’O litres of petiid. to a spot within range of the Hobby's patrol area. AVe estimate the area observed on the return trip of sixty thousand square kilometres. The oxpedttion lias observed a total of a bundled thousand kilometres of hitherto unoxplored aren. •* Inroiedintclv after ° ur .and in pc, a Norwegian sealer, the ‘ Sioeliv.’ from Barras Fiord, passed westward. \\ e at once went on hoard of her. and were irladlv received. Our ’plane was taken r„ two Towards the night the wind freshened to a gale., so we were compel-

led to make for shelter under land on the west side of Lady franklin Bay, remaining there during the night. There was no improvement, on June Kith so our ’plane was secured on the land at lee Bay, and the members of the expedition leit with the ‘Sjoeliv. “ During the navigation of the

’plane.-, our Goerz solar compasses were of essential importance, operating entirely satisfactorily. No other ’plane except- the Hornier ty]x* could have withstood the strain. The Rolls-Royce engines in the first few hours secured our confidence. Not once on tho latter part of the flight, during which there was no possibility of landing, did wo feel any anxiety. During our stay in the north, the engines always started instantaneously, and they saved the ■plane when we were compelled to move iL away from threatening pack

TO MAKE ANOTHER ATTEMPT. (Rocei-ed this day at ? a.m.i OSLO, June ID. Amundsen states he is determined to renew his attempt to reach the North Bole.