Voice of Stranded Airship Heard

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 376, 9 June 1928, Page 9

Voice of Stranded Airship Heard

SIGNALS RECOGNISED AMATEUR REPORTS S.O.S. (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Pres 3 Association) LONDON, Friday. A Stockholm newspaper reports that the Citta di Milano’s wireless operator picked up a message yesterday which, from the way it was sent, was recognised as being from the Italia’s wireless operator, Biagi. It was too weak to be decipherable, and the Citta di Milano was asked for a repetition. This was heard, but the signals were too weak to be understood. The commander of the Italia’s supply ship reported in a message to R-ome that after making regular periodical wireless calls to the Italia signals were heard on the vessel and recognised as coming from the dirigible. The Citta di Milano continues to attempt to ascertain the Italia’s position. The wireless operator on the Citta di Milano recorded with near certainty the word “Franz,” indicating the possibility that the airship landed on Franz Josef Land. AMUNDSEN’S DOUBTS A message from Altoona, Pennsylvania, says that Mr. Clyde Amos, an amateur radio operator, has reported the reception of a wireless message from the lost airship Italia, sent out on a wave-length of 33.35 metres. The message is as follows: “SOS, Nobili. No shelter remains except Italia, which is crushed against a mountain. Position 84 deg. 15m 10s north, 15deg 20m 40s east. Temperature freezing. Rush food. All alive, several injured. Heard no calls. Will be on air again 6 a.m. Greenwich time. SPS. RAO, Nobili.” The message has not been received elsewhere and has not b,egn confirmed Mr. Amos said he would remain on watch. ■ According to a message from Oslo in reference to this cable, Captain Ronald Amundsen thinks that the direction and position indicated do not seem probable, being too far north. His belief is that the Italia travelled in an easterly direction.