AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1928, Page 3

AVIATION.

(United Service.) EFFORTS TO iIKLP ITALIA. (Received tin's day at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON', June 11. Judge Robinson, Cbainnan of the Federal Radio Commission, issued an appeal relative to the dirigible Italia in the name of humanity. “ According to official advices received by the Navy Department, the Italia, in command General Nobile, now lost in the Arctic, is ccpiippcd with a shortwave radio transmitter, operating on a 33-metre wave-length and equal to 9,000 kilocycles, with which Nobile is undoubtedly attempting to communicate with the world. All radio professionals and amateurs in the United i States, operating within 500 kilocycles of the Italia’s frequency, therefore arc requested to maintain absolute silence as an aid to the dirigible, in presumed efforts to establish contact with the outside world.” - ITALIA MESSAGE. (Received this day at 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, June 10. A copyright wireless message from the Citta do Milano states: “At last we are sure the Italia’s messages ere genuine. Several came in purporting to emanate from the Italia. All were weak and undecipherable, hut used Italian language. Lastly came ‘ Italia speaking, 86891,’ which is the operator, Sergt. Biagi’s identification number.” A later message gave an amended position, longtitude 28.40; latitude 30). Several other messages were undecipherable as the transmitter had evidently weakened, but one was readable, “ Reply using 30 metres.” It is marvellous that the accumulators still have sufficient energy to send out even a few intelligible signals. The new position shows the crew stranded 28 miles north of Cape Leigh Smith. Larsen left King’s Ray at mid-night in order to join the Hobby. The fuel supply enables him 'to remain in the air only 50) hours. If lie gets dear water near enough he will make a reconnaissance, fix the castaways exact position and request there he sent to expedite the arrival of a large seaplane from Italy, which will drop supplies. Royd heads the first rescue party and takes two sleighs, each drawn by five dogs. The distance from Cape North to the Italia’s position is 100 miles. Royd estimates it can bo covered in four days but much depends on the accuracy of the existing maps, which locate the castaways position only a few miles from land.

ITALIA’S GREW IN GRAVE DANGER (Received this day at 1.5 p.mA OSLO, June 11. The captain of the Citta di Milano states two separate parties of the Italia’s crew are drifting on flees, off North Eastland. ITA LIA IS CREW. LONDON, June 10. Two wireless messages received from DRomo announces three of the Italia’s crew are already making their way on foot towards the north coast of Spitsbergen where they hope to locate the Hobby. It adds that the crew are encamped on the ice with fairly ample provisions. Wilkins, who has arrived in London from Paris, considers it is only possible to carry on by aeroplane, as tlie ice is over thick to allow a ship through and insufficiently firm to allow a sledge party. Aeroplanes in the first place should make reconnaisances, and if impossible to land, food could be dropped. The Italia’s crew, in the meantime could prepare a landing place and aeroplanes could rescue them one by one.

SEAPLANE* FOR RESCUE. c M LONDON, .Tunc TO. j The “Times” Milan correspondent S ays the seaplane, whose destination ,| _. Royce leads, is Soo, which is being | hastily fitted out. at Lake Maggoire f 1 for King’s Bay, where it is expected ( on June 14, carrying Commander Madtlalena and four officers. f t NEWS OF NOBILE. t ROME, June 10. j A message from King’s Bay says Holmes’ machine was compelled to "land on the ice at Mussel Bay, owing 1 to severe weather. The Hohhv also is at a standstill owing* to the ice. .Meanwhile the Italia continues in constant touch with the Cftta da. Milano. Nobile states all are well aboard the airship, but hopes help soon will be forthcoming. The Italia is ten miles from land. Amundsen says the rescue of the , crew is possible only with dogs. Though seaplanes would be useful for observe- c tions, they would he unable to land. t Adolf Hoel (another authority on . Arctic conditions) considers ice-break-ing ns only the means of rescue. He thTnks the’ Italia and crew may he drifting landwards, ns the ice goes westward. AEROPLANES WRECKER BY TORNADO. WASHINGTON, June TO. At Bolling Field (near Washington) | ; a tornado swept the landing field late , in the afternoon, completely wrecking j eleven ’planes and injuring six persons. , '[’he damage estimated is between a quarter and half a million dollars. The storm struck the field with an tin- , canny suddenness, preventing the removal of the ’planes to safety. Several hangars were flattened to the , wound while a few ’planes were hurled to a. height of 200 feet before crashing. One ’plane descended on a Red Cross ambulance containing three occu- ( - pants and demolished both the 'plane and the ambulance, the occupants of fi which escaped with slight injuries. \ Two aviators approaching the field perceived the storm cloud and averted certain death by a quick change of course.