AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1928, Page 2

AVIATION

THE AVRECKED ITALIA. A PREMATURE REPORT. Australian Press Assn."—United Service LONDON, June 15. The report that three of the Italia’s crew had been rescued by the Hobby dog team was, unfortunately, premature. Tlie dog team lias not returned and has sent no message, while the weather in the neighbourhood will render the flight of Holm and Larsen im])ossihle. Nobile’s faint signals were heard • again by the Citta di Milano to-day, suggesting that the accumulators were useable sparingly. The. message’ said that the camp been struck iby a heavy storm, butNj with no injuries. The message urged the again to rush food, arms and am-munition,-and adds: “Tlie ice is breaking up, and large expanses of water are showing up. "While this will afford suitable seaplane landing, on the contrary it evokes a danger that we may have to move our camp.” The position given by wireless shows that General Nobile’s party has drifted seven miles eastward since Tuesday. There is still utter silence as to tlie fate of seven of the crew, carried off in the envelope. _ Every day the rescuers are drawing nearer the goal, while the numbers of offers of help is growing. The Russian ice-breaker Krassin, carrying wireless, aeroplanes, and 134 persons—scientists, . wireless experts and journalists—is now on route from Leningrad, and is expected to reach King’s Bay on the 25th inst.

France has now taken a hand, and has offered to place Major Gilbaud and a giant two-engined seaplane, standing by for the trans-Atlantic dash, at disposal. Gilbaud leaves to-morrow, picks up Amundsen at Bergen, and thence lie proceeds to Spitzliergcn. The petrol capacity is sufficient for forty hours, and the plane can carry a ton of goO.SLO, June 16. Amundson will depart to-night- for Bergen taking with him Lieut. Dietrichson, who piloted Amundsen’s Polar flight in 1925. He also takes AA'isting, who ; is Amundsen’s inseparable Arctic and Antarctic companion. It is exactly twenty-five years today since Amundsen' started on his first expedition. PARIS, June 16. Guilbaud. the airman, has started for Bergen. OSLO, June 16. In readiness for M. Guilbaud's arrival, a variety of provisions .which General Nobile is likely to need is being assembled at Bergen. ITALIAN SEAPLANE!. FLYING TO SPITZBERGEN. f M OSLO, June 16.

Maddalena, the Italian airman, with a big seaplane from Italy, left Vadsoe for Spitzbergen this morning, but was obliged to descend owing to a damaged motor. The seaplane was towed to Vadsoo, but Maddalena resumed his journey this evening.