AMUNDSEN.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1925, Page 1

AMUNDSEN.

I Australia &■ X.Z. Cubic Association.] FUIITHKII PAKTICFLAKS. LOXDOX, June 19. A copyright message from the “iieinidal,” Spitsbergen, tinted today (Friday) states that of the six men who participated in the Polar (light-, Amundsen shows the most traces of the hardships the party underwent-, but- others say that it because Amundsen worked the hardest of all. Amundsen .says tout on his expedition to the South Polo lie met nothing v.lnch could he compared with what he had just undergone. He would not have believed that such experiences as ho had undergone in the last three weeks could ever have befallen him. and he hopes that nobody else will ever have them, adding: "Wo were literally like rats in a trap. Many times the situation was ugly. We were tempted to throw up the sponge. When finally we started for home', everyone, realised that it was a o:i-e of life or death.” LOXTXiX. June 19. A message from the “Hoimdal” states that F.llsworth is the least changed of thr- party. Jtisser Larsen, Dietriehsen, Omdal, and Fitcht have all lost many pounds in weight, but they are otherwise quite well. LONDON*. June 20. A cony right message has been ro-f-r-ived from the “TTeinidal'’ relating how the start was made homeward. The Polar airmen said that the course was laid to Yorlogenhook. and when the Xorth coast of Spitsbergen came into -iglit. it was evident that Kiisor Larsen's piloting and Pietriehens navigating had both been perfect. Owing to there being a strong wind. the nurse was made towards Xorth Cape. \s the stabilisation rudders became immovable. however, making it intpos,ib!e lo stabilise the plane. Kisser Lurie n determined to descend into the sea. ihout forty kilometres north of the ’’ape. After .skimming the water fm m hour, the piano was moored to an eelierg in Fugle Kay. Caplain Atnnndeu. during Iho flight hack sal next to i limlal and F-meht, on ilie petrol tank. I oitli a view to lightening the plane. > Scientific instruments. valued at night hundred sterling, had to be left i behind. Those, together with the surplus equipment and stores, were placed in the tnhor plane X 21. though it is s most unlikely that the plane .'2-1 will l ever be seen again. A bundle of let- i teivi was deposited in its petrol tank s which is very light, and it- may he dis- e covered some years hence. The explorers relate that they saw a | b.-arded -eal. and also saw auks and :cii geese, whi- li is a most interesting laet, it has hitherto been assumed ‘ ,bat mo animal life existed north of t latitude eighty-live degrees. o

IHK MOST Til 111 L!,l XG MOMENT. LONDON. June ID. A copyright ireless nm-sage from the “Ileimdar’, on Friday stated v.e ate slowly getting to know the full la-Is of tin- icturned airmen's three weeks adventure. When the whole expedition once again met last they declared that the most thrilling moment was when their start was made on till* homeward flight, ll was a very anxious time. as. ti their machines were damaged in starting they would find themselves in a most critical situation with a minimum of equipment. .LONDON- June ID, A ijpiizbereen me sage states that, when it "as mentioned to Captain A m linden that the "hole world iitimghl that he vas hound for Cape Columbia, he .said: “With the condition.- as they arc, I hi- would have meant certain death.” It would have been practically hopeless l-i reach land a-ross the ice. The airmen refuse to admit that they are disappointed at not rem hing the Pole. They said: ‘‘Although we all Imped i-i reach the Bole as the crown to our efforts, still we are satisfied with Hie

scientific result. \Ye have observed 100 thousand square kilometres of the hitherto unexplored section of the .Norwegian part of the Arctic. We took ■ ompleto observations at our landing place.” Captain Amundsn states thnl ho fully concurs with this view. While their meal on heir return was being prepared, the airmen suddenly espied (lie sealer ‘‘fijoelio." As a mattor of fact (lie “Hobby” had been at llio same spot only twenty-eight hours previously. All were prepared to find the plane Xin had condition ns it had suffered seriously while locked in the iee. Until was quite fitted for Hying. Outdid has brought- with him from the ‘‘Sioelio” a biscuit tin v.illi six hundred negatives, which will shew the super-human work carried out by the explorers in trying to clear their starting place. They used the most primitive tools, such' as tiny anchors, ice anchors and knives at the end of ski staves. OSLO, dune 10. Ann rt from Amundsen, the other members of the Kxnediiioii have expressed the (minion that important seientili ■ results have been achieved. The I’remier of Norway has received a telegram from Amundsen saying that he surveyed IfiO.OOft square kilometres adding: "We did not discover any indication of land. The easting of the lead at oar norlliernmest latitude gave

3750 metres, leading to the supposition that no land exists in the Norwegian section of the Polar basin. The British Minister here as cabled to Amundsen as follows: “Well done old Norway!’’ OSLO, June 19. At the opening of the 'Nonvagian Storthing, the President said that he wished to express the sentiments of till on the occasion of the safe return of Captain Amundsn and his brave comrades from their daring journey whereat they had staged tneir lives. A telegram was accordingly sent to Captain Amundsen, welcoming lnm and his courageous comrades home, and thanking him for the courage and energy they had shown for the benefit of research as for the honour of their country. The whole of Oslo is beilagged to celebrate the occasion. Numerous authorities, institutions and associaious have sent Captain Amundsen congratulatory telegrams. OSLO, June 19. The wives of the aviators Buser-Lar-seu and Bcitrichsen arc the heroines of the day. The former said that her husband, before his departure, stated tliai when lie returned lie would wire the one word "Sunshine. ••Yesterday,” she added, “Captain Atinimi-i-n's representative telephoned asking me to come down town.” “Good uewsN’ i asked. “Sunshine,’’ he replied. OSLO, June 10. King Haakon, of Norway, has sent a message to Captain Amundsen, as follows: “I welcome you and your .-omradcs and than.v you for what you ire achieving, adding further honours :o your country's name.

The King, in a special address to the Cabinet, said that lie regarded the achievement- as one of the greatest in history. Captain Amundsen is determined to resume his attempt to reach the North Bole.. He declared mat the experience he lias gained would enable him to attain Iris goal. OSLO, Juno ID. Lincoln Ellsworth, Hie American member of the expedition, whose father largely helped to finance the expedition was grieved to hear that his father had died in Italy while |hc expedition was in the Arctic. Ellsworth said that his money in fault-* would hi* at Amundsen's disposal. • LONDON June 20. Brestnid, who accompanied Amundsen to the South Pole in 1 ft.ll, is of Iho opinion that the host means of reaching the North Pole is by an airship of a. sort which could be anchored to avoid the risk of being frozen in.

SHORT ROUTE TO ASIA. LONDON June 20. The “Daily Telegraph’’ .says: ‘Amundsen’s adventures suggest thatlie time may conic when men flying iver the North Pole will reach Japan n a little over a couple of hours. ABANDONED PLANE SENT FOB. OSLO. June PJ. The sloop Ileimdal has left King’s Jay for Lady Fran,din’s Bay to fetch tinundsen's abandoned aeroplane.