AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1928, Page 2

AVIATION

ITALIA SURVIVORS. A STRONG VINDICATION. Australian Press Assn.—United Service BERLIN, July 31. General Nobile's train departed from Xuremburg to the accompaniment of hoots and catcalls, after a brief halt at the station. Members of the Italian Colony who were among the big crowd, shouted for “fair jilay.” BEHOUNEK’S ACCOUNT. LONDON, July 31. Copyright.—Behounek, of the Italia, before departing for Prague, has-made line following statement:—lrresponsible , rumours, unjust to General Nobile and his expedition, have necessi-

tated tliat Signor Mussolini, should order an inquiry. Immediately we fell from the airship. General Nobile’s first words, as ho lay blood-covered, and almost unconscious, were that lie was glad T was unhurt. He took charge of the smallest details, although he was the most injured of all. The Italia’s comrades were a hand of brothers and heroes. Ceccioni was the Robinson Crusoe of the Red Tent Camp. Though Tie was injured to the degree of immobility, he never ceased to Help. He re-establish-ed the radio. He made us all felt slippers. He fashioned kitchen materials. He made a precious grill on which bear meat was cooked. When our radio wire would not stick he prevented a breakdown by using the tinfoil from a sardine tin, soldering tlie wire over the kitchen stove, which ho had built. He even made the sleigh upon which he was transported lo the “Krassin.” Trniani, our philosophic engineer, became our chef. Whenever the wireless brought good news, wc* became as gay as .schoolboys, and General Nobile gave each of us a malted milk lozenge. Biagi was our fresh air fiend. He never slept in the tent. He placed his sleeping bag under the wing of Lundborg’s aeroplane and slumbered there happily. Ho discovered in the morning Polar hears’ footprints all around. Almost everv day he explored the ice canals in a little dinghy. Malmgrem, two nights before his departure, expounded to the whole party his idea, of marching to the North Cape, Spitsbergen. AU of us except Zappi and Mariano opposed this scheme. General Nobile eventually yielded to it. owing to Malm grem’s reputation as a Polar expert. Malmgrem, oil the eve of his departure, seemed to be less confident, and he told me—in German, which 110hod v else understood—“T feel tlia * you will he rescued and that we will , j )C lost.” I offered to write his mother if we wore rescued first.”