AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1928, Page 2

AVIATION

NEWS OF- ITALIA. Australian Press Assn.—United Service ITALIA’S CREW. ONE DEAD—THREE DOODIED. LONDON, June 12. One of the crew of the Italia is dead. There are two others with broken legs, who are dying. Three more of them are struggling—ill-clad and foodless—towards North East Land, over a melting ice floe, and knee deep in slush, and they are doomed; while the remainder of the expedition, in two groups, who roughly are sixteen miles apart, are in the direst straits.

The foregoing is the purport ot fragmentary wireless messages that have been received from various sources to-day.

111-luck, in the shape of crashes and of a lack of suitable equipment, are hampering the efforts of daring airmen to reach the castaways, whose unstable sanctuary is liable to engulf them at any moment. Commander Dfaddalelan’s Italian seaplane crashed into a motor boat, after refuelling at Oucliy, and she damaged' a wing which will take ten days to repair. Holm’s plane, which is based at least 125 miles from the castaways, lias a maximum range of 340 miles, and is capable of carrying a heavy load of foodstuffs.

ANOTHER ITALIAN ’PLANE. _ ROME, June 12, . Another seaplane, which is part of the Italian Government’s relief expedition for the Italia, leaves Pisa to-day in an attempt to succour the Italia’s crew. It is understood that DVilkins is unable to accept an invitation to take over the command of tho seaplane. CAUSE OF DISASTER. LONDON, June 12. It now lias been established that General Nobile, at the critical moment, found that the Italia was weighted down by a coating of ice, and that her sides were being tom by tho fragments of ice that were flung by the propellers, and also that it was impossible to make King’s Bay against the prevailing blizzard. Nobile then decided to anchor, but the Italia became unmanageable. As a result, the airship’s forward control car, carrying General Nobile and six of the crew, came into violent impact with the ice. The pneumatic buffers alone saved the occupants from instant death.

AIRMEN JUDIP FRODI ITALIA. LONDON, June 12. , The result of the first crash of the Italia was that, relieved of the weight of her gondola, toe airship rose again, and she then drifted away. She touched the ice once again at a place thirty kilometres distant. Then seven of the men jumped clear of the ship. Further on still, three more of the crew dropped down on the ice. Then, according to one message, the airship, thus lightened, drifted westward into tho unknown.

ITALIA’S URGENT NEEDS. (Received this day at. S a.m.) KINGS BAY, June 12. Fog and then a shortage of fuel forced down Holm, whom Bragnnza •will have to rescue. Meanwhile the aviators' are awaiting a chance for a reconnaissance in preparation for larger flying boat flights to drop food, firearms, hoots, medicines and stoves wherefore Nobile’ has urgently appealed. The Central News correspondent states the Italia’s latest confused wireless suggests most of the victuals and equipment were lost when they crashed,. Everyone are frostbitten on the hands and feet.

AMUNDSEN’S FEARS. OSLO, June 12. Amundsen opines there is little hope of the survivors trekking 25 miles to Braganza. The ice is heavily humniocked and treacherous. If help does not arrive in a few days it will he too late. £21,000 FOR FLIERS. SYDNEY, June 13. Libbens Harden donated a cheque of £5,000 to the Pacific fliers, bringing the aggregate of all funds to date to about £21,000. SMITH’S NEXT MOVE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 13. Kinfjsfcird Smith and tlireje comrades, with Smith’s mother and Aire Utlm depart for AMbourne to-morrow. The two Americans, Warner and Lyon decline to accept any money subscribed on their behalf in Australia, saying they will receive sufficient monetary recognition when they return to America.

ANOTHER FLIGHT. NEW \ T ORK, June 12. The monoplane Columbia, carrying Aliss Mabel 8011, piloted by Captain Oliver De Boutillier and Arthur Argles, with a mechanic, hopped off for Harbour Grace this morning on the first leg of a flight to Europe.