FLIGHT TO NORTH POLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 April 1926, Page 9

FLIGHT TO NORTH POLE.

Captain Wilkins’s Plans. SUCCOURING MISSING PARTY. By Cable—-Press Association —Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received April 11, 5.5 p.m. VANCOUVER. April it). A message l from Fairbanks stares that Captain Wilkins hopped off this morning in tlie aeroplane “AlnsKan, on a second trip to Point, Barrow. The main object of the flight is to succour tlie parly endeavouring to curry supplies overland to Point Barrow from the Alaskan railroad, and wlio are reported to be .starving. Captain Wilkins is planning to drop food when tlie parly is sighted.

LITTLE HOPE OF HELP. “LIKE NEEDLE IN HAYSTACK.” By Cable—Press Association —’Copyright. Sydney “ Run ” Service. (Kecoivod April 11, 5.5 p.m.) VANCOUVER, April 10. Captain Wilkins and Lieutenant Eiel.son left Fairbanks this morning in matchless Hying weather, carrying two tons of freight, including 150 extra gallons of gasolene for a. later trip across tlie Pole. En route they will attempt to relieve tlie Ross Party. Captain Wilkins expressed doubt that they would be aide to locate them amid tlie difficult country and tangle of rivers, where they are bold up. Captain Wilkins declared: “It will be like kinking for a needle in a. haysinek. it is very unlikely we will lie aide lo deliver any dog feed. Our living height, will be at least SUIO feet, and we might .strike serious (■rouble if we descended within 100 feet of the ground to drop Hie packages.” Captain V\ ilkins hopes to return from Barrow on Monday or TuesJav.

AMUNDSEN ON THE WING. NORGE DEPARTS FOR FULHAM. CONFIDENT FORECAST OF EXPERTS. By Cable—Press A.v.ocintion —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received April 11, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 11. Croat interest was aroused by’the departure of tlie Norge from Romo for Pulliam, where it is ’expected to arrive (his morning or afternoon. The airship will be driven at an economical speed of about forty miles an hour, not landing anywhere, (ho journey occupying thirty hours. At Pulliam, the airship will put into a shod to take in fuel and replenish hydrogen gas in readiness for a flight to Oslo and Spitzbergen, the latter being the base from which Hie Norge will set.out on the voyage to the North Pole.

The British Air Ministry is giving all assistance! possible. Major Scott (the Mnistry’s officer in charge of airships), is coming from Rome in tiie Norge. Captain Amundsen hopes now to ho able to make such a survey of the central polar, region, as to settle the vexed question whether there are islands of considerable extent therein. Explorers to-day agree, says the “Observer’s” aeronautical expert, that there is no insuperable obstacle to the eventual establishment of air traffic routes across the Polar regions, connecting Britain with China, and .Japan, and reducing the time now taken in transit by more than fifty per cent.