AIRSHIP NORGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1926, Page 2

AIRSHIP NORGE.

VOYAGE OYER NORTH SEA. [Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, April 14. Searchlights were showing, and til© crowd cheered when th© Italian airship Norge departed from Pulliam for Oslo. Norway, in excellent weather. One hundred anil fifty volunteers, who acted as the landing crew on th© airship’s arrival, were summoned late last evening, and they gave the ship a good send-off. Tbe Norge departed at 11.40 p.m. after a thorough examination, no precautions being neglected. Many of the crew wore “Fair Isle” Jerseys, and nearly all carried golliwogs and other mascots. Colonel Nobile, the pilot, in lus final words, thanked the British Air Ministry and especially thanked “that great pilot, Major Scott,” for Lis assistance. „ LONDON, April 13. Before Captain Amundsen’s Polar Airship Norge left Pulliam, on route for Oslo and Leningrad, a member of the party. Lieutenant Risaao Larsen, said: “We are leaving the English coast near Yarmouth, and are steering straight towards Christiania and thence we intend to follow the Norwegian coast until we reach Oslo, which no hope will be about ten o’clock in the morning. Thence we shall go to Leningrad, crossing Sweden, and posse ay passing over Stockholm.” LONDON, April 14. One thousand persons watched the Norge’s departure. The most joyous ot the crow was Colonel Nobile s fox i.crrier, whose hark was to be. heard ;,s the airship rosy and disappeared. It is now reported that if flic i'oither continues favourable, the airship may go directly to Leningrad, not stopping at Oslo. AMUNDSEN’S PLANS. OSLO, April 13. Captain Amundsen and Mr Ellsworth have started for Spitsbergen. The newspaper “Aftenpost,” publishes a statement that Amundsen lias . been charged by the Premier of Norway to annex all land discovered during his Polar flight. ( Captain Amundsen, in an interview, . said: “The flight we are now uuder- , taking is far less risky than that of , the flying boats in 11)25. After the start from Spitsbergen, we may be unable to report until October or No- ' venibor. When we reach the Pole, wc - will drop overboard a heavy iron pick, - whereto the Norwegian, the American, t and the Italian flags will he attached, c If the conditions permit, we will main a landing, but no undue risks will hi taken.”