EXPLORERS DISAGREE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 359, 21 May 1928, Page 1

EXPLORERS DISAGREE

AMUNDSEN AND NOBILE DOES NICHOLAS 11. LAND EXIST ? ITALIA’S FLIGHT DESCRIBED (United F.A. — By Telegravli — Copyright) (Australia n P.A.—United Service) LONDON, Sunday. The Svalbard correspondent of t h* British United Press Association says General Nobile’s airship Italia safely returned yesterday to King's Bay. The leader of the expedition asserted that he saw no land at the spot charted on the maps as Nicholas 11. Land. The Italia’s flight lasted nearly three days and nights. It covered nearly 2,000 miles in that time. The Italia was coated with nearly a ton of ice, which caused anxiety. Finally a blizzard compelled her to return with tha ultimate objective of a thorough exploration of the lands and islands known as Lenin Land unattained. AMUNDSEN ASTONISHED

A message from Oslo, Norway, says Captain Roald Amundsen, in an interview, described General Nobile’s statement that he had failed to find Nicholas 11. Land as astonishing. He said he had personally visited that land on his expedition in the }faud by means of sledges. He had signal posts erected then. Captain Amundsen thinks General Nobile must have passed the island in a fog. The explorers made a search for Oillea Land, claimed to have been discovered by the English explorer of that name, but they failed to find a trace of it. DEAD ICY WASTES Finally the airship came to the open sea-ice, over which it flew at an altitude of 500 ft. The midnight sun sent its rays over the horizon streaming across the dead icy wastes of the Polar Sta far and wide. There was not the slightest sign of life. Shortly before 5 a.m. on Wednesday the coast of Franz Josef Land was sighted. The temperature on board th© airship fell as much as seven degrees below zero. A crust of ic© now enveloped the whole airship, hindering her manoeuvring and it became disconcerting. Over Franz Joseph Land a flag from the city of Venice was thrown in memory of the eorplorer3 from that city who had perished there. As the Italia flew over the spot where Captain Cagni wintered 28 years ago a wreath was dropped. When the Italia, somewhat lumberingly, approached where Lenin Land is supposed to be the blizzard broke suddenly. Obviously a landing thereabout was impracticable. Just before midnight a new course was set after the receipt of a wireless message from the supply ship Citta di Milano advising a return as far south as possible. AIRSHIP IN DIFFICULTY When the Italia was 150 miles from King’s Bay a series of north-easterlies shook her from nose to stern. On one occasion General Nobile believed it would be impossible to make the base and contemplated steering to Vadso. Norway. All hands, including the wireless operator, were called upon to keep the Italia in the air. This explains the absence of replies to signals from the supply ship. The members of the Italia’s crew are now considerably fatigued as a result of 40 hours of constant strain on watch. Jae Italia finally arrived at King’s Bay in streaming sunshine and calm air and she landed smoothly.