ARCTIC EXPLORERS WAIT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 384, 19 June 1928, Page 9

ARCTIC EXPLORERS WAIT

Radio Talks While Sleighs Prepare

DOG TEAMS NEEDED TO CROSS PACK ICE

(United P.A.—By Telegraph Copyright) (United Service) Reed. 12.10 p.m. KING'S BAY. Monday. rE airmen Holm and Larsen are immediately re-flving to General Nobile’s new position. Nobile wirelessed that the atmospheric and ice conditions are favourable, and asking for information for the treatment of a fractured tibia.

The Braganza's rescue expedition, consisting of Captain Sora and two Norwegian sleigh drivers, is starting immediately from Castren Bay, near where the Braganza is held up. The Braganza’s sleigh will carry sufficient supplies to enable Nobile’s party to reach the nearest land and there await, without immediate danger, the larger expedition 'which will transport them to civilisation. Using a large sleigh and a nine-dog team, the party will proceed to Scoresby Island or Cape Brunn, from where it will go straight to Nobile’s party. It is most difficult to forecast the daily speed, which depends on the condition of the pack ice. If conditions are favourable, Nobile’s little red-dyed tent ought to be sighted on the fifth day. The decision to send a light, rapid convoy was made because the weather is unduly delaying the aerial surveys, and also Commandant Maddalena’s plane, and that of the Finnish aviators. S.O.S. CALL SENT An earlier Copenhagen message says that advices received by the Stockholm newspaper “Dagens Nyheter” states that the commander of the lost airship Italia, General Nobile, who, with six companions, is isolated on the ice-pack north of North East Land in the Arctic has sent out by wireless an S.O.S. call.

General Nobile's message says a violent storm is raging around the i marooned party. He asks for arms and ammunition with which to keep off the Polar bears, which are now threatening the party.

A message from Oslo, Norway, says the Italia's supply ship, the Citta di Milano, reports that Captain Riiser Larsen flew* over the spot where General Nobile had last indicated his position. He saw nothing, but soon afterwards General Nobile wirelessed that lie had seen the airplane. He gave his party’s present position as 80 degrees 33 minutes north, 27 degrees 12 minutes east.