MOUNTAIN BROADCAST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1938, Page 8

MOUNTAIN BROADCAST

ALTITUDE OF 10.380 FEET. A. speech delivered from 10.380 ft up Mount Blanc was heard all over France. It was the highest point from which such a broadcast had been made. A. storm prevented its delivery from a new refuge hut at a height of 14,435 ft. The speech was made by the French Minister of Education, M. Zay, who had intended to reach and open the new hut. One member of the party, who became ill, was carried down the mountain side on a stretcher improvised from skis. Radio commentators, photographers and reporters were among those who look part in the remarkable mass ascen •. The expedition started at noon and climbed by an easy track to the Alpine Club’s chalet at 10,380 ft. There they spent the night, rising at 3 a.m. next day to attack the second and much more difficult and dangerous section of the climb. Roped in twos and threes, they made good progress until the storm broke. Although the climb had no competitive significaance, it was remarked that it was equally as arduous as the bayon-et-jumping test to which Signor Mussolini put his Fascist leaders.