HONEYMOON OVER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1040, 2 August 1930, Page 9

HONEYMOON OVER

WILKINS SETTLES TO WORK ON POLAR EXCURSION TRIP BENEATH ARCTIC ICE NEW YORK, Thursday. Sir Hubert Wilkins returned to New York today from his honeymoon in Europe. Tho explorer said he hoped to start upon his submarine expedition to the Arctic in May or June. On leaving Spitsbergen he would drive the submarine under the Arctic ice across the North Pole to Unalaska, Aleutian Islands. While Sir Hubert was abroad he enlisted the services of Dr. Otto Sverdrup, a noted Norwegian meteorologist, and Dr. Vening Miebesz, a Dutch scientist. Another scientist is to be selected to join the party. Sir Hubert Wilkins said some time ago he hopes to travel 2.000 miles in his submarine across the North Pole in 50 days. Whenever ice blocks the course, he will submerge. He estimates the average thickness of the ice to be 10 feet, but in order to avoid spikes he will probably submerge 25 feet. He estimates the submarine’s speed at 14 knots on the surface and nine knots submerged, but he expects to average only Si knots submerged. He will travel 16 hours a day. A continuous talkie will be made. Sir Hubert broadcasting from the surface. One of the explorer’s objects is to show that a submarine can land provisions at the North Pole, which suggests the possibility of maintaining a depot there all the year round.