AMUNDSEN’S FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1926, Page 3

AMUNDSEN’S FLIGHT

great interest aroused. NO OBSTACLES TO POLAR ROUTES. [Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, April 11. Great interest is aroused by tbe departure of the Norge from Rome for Pulliam, where she is expected to arrive this morning or in the afternoon. Tho airship will he driven at an economical speed of about forty miles an hour, not landing anywhere, the journey occupying thirty hours. The stop at Pulliam will he to take in fuel and replenish the* livdrogen gas in readiness for the flight to Oslow anil Spitzbergen, the latter being the base from which the airship will set out on tlie voyage to the North Pole.

The British Air Ministry is giving all assistance possible. Major Scott, the' Ministry’s officer is in charge of tho airships coming from, Rome. In the Norge, Captain Amundsen hopes that he will now ho able to make such a survey of the central polar region as to settle tlie vexed question of whether there are islands of considerable extent therein. Explorers to-day agree, says the “Observer’s,” aeronautical expert that there is no insuperable obstacles to the eventual establishment of air traffic routes across the Polar regions, connecting Britain with China and Japan and reducing tlie time now taken in transit by more than fifty per cent. THE NORGE ARRIVES. LONDON, April 11. The Norge has arrived at Pulliam.