Evening star., 1926-04-15

CONTINUED from First Page.)
side the Arctic Circle, n vivid demon
stration has just been given of one OF
the greatest dangers which intrepid
explorers are compelled to face.
Though human preparations have
been perfected, SO far as mechanical
skill and wise forethought make il
possible, this great hazard of nature
which mans ingenuity has not yet
overcome, can be only vaguely fore
cast by science.
Last week Peter Kopilox piioted q
big junker airplane through the low
clouds and made a wobbly landing on
the military aviation field outside OF
Moscow, after battle against q sud
we're that It took him an hour and 45
minutes to negotiate 100 miles.
The slow time Is not especially sig
nificant in connection with the polar
flight, since the flyers have allowed
ample time for delays in their 1000
mile cruise from Spitzbergen to Point
Barrow, Alaska. But the more serious
fact is that the airplane during this
short flight accumulated more than a
ton of ice, unevenly distributed over
the wings, and struggled along for
the last few miles tilted at a rakish
angle.
The polar airship not only offers a
greater surface than an airplane 70
the accumulation OF ice, but the
buoyancy Of lighter.than.air craft is
extremely sensitive to the slightest
change in temperature. A mere
fieeting cloud across the suns face
contracts the ships displacement like
l.
snow not only will increase the ships
weight, therefore, but will decrease
its buoyancy.
ill-fated American dirigibie Shenan-
doah the evening 1t sailed into Call
fornia's San Jacinto Valley on its
memorable transcontinental flight,
Though tho airship was extremely
light, having spent most of its fuel
in 35-hour flight from Fort Worth,
Tex, II started dropping like lead as
a result OF the accumulated snow and
the contracting gas. Fortunately, the
snow proved only furry, and a mo.
ment later the ship recovered it's alti-
tude. A similar experience was had
on the return trip, when the Shenan.
doah met u chill midnight breeze in
Arizona. The ship, already lightened
ny tlldLN OL ShSOiLllCs was
forced to jettlson a ton more in order
to maintain its altitude.
Polar Regions Dangerous.
During the war German Zeppelins
returning across the North Sea ac-
cumulated burdens of frost and snow
which placed them under a terrific
handicap. The polar regions are
abundantly supplied with such wealth
er conditions.
Though there are FIVE Russian
meteorological stations within the
Arctic Circle, which will give the
Norge all possible aid, there is a vast
space, equaI to two-thirds the width
Of the United States, between Spitz-
bergen and Point Barrow, which the
explorers must sail unwarned, trust
ing their fate to fortune.
The Amundsen party also must fly
over uncharted ice foes, marked
only by the unvarying shadows Of
the midnight sun on their humrnocks.
An airship, answering every cur
rent of wind, cannot steer an accu-
rate compass course. Ordinarily dirig-
ible flights followsthe course Of rail-
roads and rivers, with an occasional
sign on roof by day OF the lights of
n city by night TO guide them. But
once the Amundsen ship passes the
northern outposts of humanity 1t
will have left none OF these terrestrial
aids.
May Use Seismograph.
The committee Of the Russian
Academy of Science, which Is prepar-
ing to assist with data on polar Winds,
fog and other phenomena, suggests
that IL the dirigible is forced to land
in the Arctic wastes An1undsen set
off q heavy explosion. The, aca-
denicians are confident that the re-
percussion of the explosion would be
caught by the delicate seismograph
instruments Of the Russian observa-
tory here and would indicate definite
ly the spot where the party was
awaiting rescue.
According to information received
from the farthest north of the Rus
sian meteorological stations. the
Norge need not hurry to Leningrad,
as 1t probably will not be able to
start northward before the end of
April because of weather conditions.
Severe storms, with heavy snow and
fog, are reported beyond Lake Omega.
Copyright. 1926. BY Chicago Daily News Co..
V0YAGE TS TRIrrMPH.