GRAVE FEARS FOR NOBILE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 365, 28 May 1928, Page 1

GRAVE FEARS FOR NOBILE

ARCTIC SILENCE STILL UNBROKEN NO WORD FROM ITALIA SINCE FRIDAY MAY HAVE BEEN DRIVEN TO SIBERIAN WASTES GHAVE fears are felt for General Umberto Nobile and the crew of the Italia. The last reports from the airship stated that she was flying back from the North Pole toward King’s Bay. But since Friday evening no message from the plane has penetrated the great Arctic silence, and it is feared she has been forced to land, or driven eastward to lone Siberian wastes. Relief expeditions are hastening to set out. (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association)

Reed. 11 a.m. LONDON, Sunday. The suspense concerning the fate of General Umberto Nobile’s airship Italia, with her crew of 18 and a dog aboard, continues. The last fully authenticated wire- 1 less from the airship was timed 7 i

o’clock on Friday evening, but early this morning two roundabout messages reached London, and are transmitted reservedly. One f rom Berlin says the Oslo Meteorological Institute intercepted a mutilated message from General Nobile, saying he had landed, and calling for help. The message

does not give the position. It is rather strange that this was not received direct from Oslo, whence plenty of messages had arrived earlier. The second message, from Vadsoe, reported that the Italia sent a wireless for the supply ship at 10.5 on Saturday night. This is also uncon-

firmed by Oslo. Obviously, if one of the Italia’s motors had ceased, General Nobile would be unable to make King’s Bay through the storm. It is feared that the Italia must now be being blown helplessly toward Siberia. It is recalled that when the Italia returned from her previous voyage in the direction of Franz Josef Land, it had an ice coating weighing nearly a ton. Therefore, the possibility of the airship being forced down cannot be ignored. An ice-covered aerial would account for the cessation of messages. The Government has ordered the steamer Hobby, which at present is at Tromso, to proceed to Franz Josef Land. It is pointed out that if General Nobile manages to make a safe landing on the firm ice of Siberia, it may be several months before news is received. The party’s only course would be to abandon the airship and journey afoot until it established contact with civilisation. The Italians- are ill-prepared to endure for long the rigours of Arctic life. The Vadsoe wireless stations have been trying all day vainly to get into touch with the Italia.

RELIEF PARTIES SEARCHERS TO GO OUT NORWEGIANS READY (Australian P.A.—United Service) Reed. 9.5 a.m. OSLO, Saturday. As the result of a conference held at the Ministry of Defence in the presence of Captain Amundsen, Sverdriip, and also Gunner Isachsen and Captain Riiser Larsen, the last-named announced his readiness immediately to examine the possibility of searching for and carrying out an Italia relief expedition by means of airplanes. The Italian Legation decided to send a hydroplane relief expedition from the Citta di Milano, north of King’s Bay. The Italian Government requested the Norwegian Government to render its utmost aid in an effort to find and rescue the Italia and her crew. The Government is taking up the search, and the Defence Ministry is consulting experts. Probably a naval seaplane piloted by the famous airman Lieutenant Luetzow Holm will start out on an Italia search. A larger airplane will follow later. MOSCOW_SENDS AID (Australian Press Association) Reed. Noon. MOSCOW, Sunday. The Government is sending an expedition to rescue the Italia. All radio stations are signalling and listening-in, but no news has been received.