NEWS OF ITALIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1928, Page 1

NEWS OF ITALIA.

SUPPLY SHIP IN TOUCH. Australian. Press Assn.—United Service LONDON, June 9. The supply steamer Citta Di Milano has sent a wireless message stating that it is now in certain touch with the airship Italia, which lias been broken to pieces. It was yesterday stated that the Citta Di Milano had apparently successfully maintained contact with the Italia for twenty minutes. The airship gave her position as 20 miles north of Cape Leigh Smith. CREW BELIEVED ALL ALIVE. KING’S BAY. June 9. No further messages have, been received from the Italia, despite a nightlong vigil, but the wireless operator here thinks that in the earlier messages fie could recognise tho style of the radio telegraphist of the Italia. He believes that the messages came from Franz Josef Land. The steamers Hobby and Braganza are enclosed in ice, and they are unable to advance. Most of the experts at King’s Bay attach no importance to the repeated messages from the Italia received at Moscow. However, an intercepted message hits been received on the Italia’s wave length, reading: “Storm. North-west, S.O.S. S.O.S. Peterman.” This the Belief Committee regard as an indication that the message was from Peterman I.ail'd, which is a 100 kilometres north of Franz Josef Archipelago. It is believed that the whole of the Italia’s crew arc still alive.

NEWS AT ROME. ROME, June 9. News received here from the steamer Citta Di Milano stated that she had maintained communication with the Italia for twenty minutes, from seven o’clock Greenwich time, last evening, the Italia giving her bearings as about twenty miles north of Cape Leigh Smith, on the eastern extremity of north-east Spitsbergen. Tho Citta Di Milano immediately instructed the steamer Hobby to try and approach the place. She also ordered dog teams, in charge of experts, to proceed overland. Messages have also been picked up at King’s Bay, Spitsbergen, stating that the- commander of the Citta di Milnon was confident that the messages were genuine, hut requesting the operating’transmitter to give the recognition signals.