THE NORTH POLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19475, 9 May 1925, Page 9

THE NORTH POLE

AMUNDSEN EXPEDITION.

Pnu AMociAtioa—Bj Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 7. . A message from tbe Amundsen expedition at Spitsbergen on Thursday “The •weather is good, and the flying prospects unchanged. There are tow clouds with snow storms graving 'before the north wind. If there is no altoraton during the day the meteorologist* will a dvl s6 Amundsen not to start till Inday. and N.Z. Cable.

DELAYS IN STARTING,

ENGINE TROUBLE THE CAUSE

VESSELS AT SPITZBBRGEN.

BAD VISIBILITY

LONDON, May 7. (Received May 8, at 5.5 P-m-) A copyright wireless message , Eram on toe evening of the &th wh was delayed owing t? dis turbances, states: Tim „ , r Hobby arrived on the North Coast of Spitsbergen on Wednesday morning, live since patrolled, the coast 1“® order to find the best starting P°mt, but it appears impossible to find the level of the Fjord ire for a start, of the ice is packed. After failing t enter Kobbe Bay or Wefiman’sEayorto force the ice north of Amsterdam l&land, the vessels entered the smith channel between Danies Island and the mainland of Spitsbergen, where there is a.■ g strench of sheltered open water. Amundsen has been advised of this, and probably a start will be made from th e S0 «to channel, where the planes will be fuelled alongside the Hobby. “The ice conditions are _ not good, as northery winds are sweeping ® ice southwards. The drift ice from King’s Bay lies northwards in the curve to Amsterdam Island. Three-quarters of a mile from the shore there is also sludge ice, but not heavy enough to prevent toe manceiming of the ships or to proven e starting or the landing of the pWIt is hopeless to attempt to force the ire northwards and eastwards of Amsterdam “ter the Fram and the Hobby left Kings Bay we expected to hear that the planes were ready to start, but unde engine tests it was discovered that new carburettors were necessary. To-day toe Fram is without news ■as to when the planes are arriving. The temperature fe from minus 12 to minus 15, centigrade. The visibility is bad owing to winds from the Polar basin sweeping the cold air southwards towards toe warmer open sea. There are clouds over the northem_ coast of Spitzbergen, but it is clear inland over the ice. The low pressure oyer Labrador is not expected to affect flying during the first fortnight after the start, when the airmen may he expected back. “The Fram and the Hobby are remaining together in the fairway at Danes Island. If the visibility becomes worse too Hobby will proceed east, but not beyond Verlegen Hook. If the planes do not return after 14 days the Hobby will proceed eastward, if possible to the north Cape, and patrol as near the ice edge as possible. The ships will await toe airmen rix weeks after toe start The Pram will be at Kings Bay from May 16 to 19 for boiler cleaning, when members of the expedition can, if they so desire accompany toe Fram in order to return home. “Tlie vessels late on Wednesday eyeniug moored at the edge of the ire in toe south channel, and as toe weather was cloudy, with driving snow, the meteor desists telegraphed to Amundsen advising him not to start on Thursday. ' Hagerup Horgen, after taking observations, recommended the south channel as the starting place.” —A. and N.Z. Cable.