Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-24

| deScribnE nlodestly his heroic exploit in
reseuins Gen. Mobile from the ice-hound
this series Capt. Lundbors has been tell
! fng for the hrst time the graphic details
| of the rescue.
BY CAPT. EINAR -PAAL LUNDBoRG
| Royal Swedish Flylps Corps
| Special Dispatch by wireless and Cable ia
! The Star and the North American News
! {Copyrishi, 1898, by North American News
| paper Alliance throughout the world, en-
cept in Scandinavia. Finland and Den
Fnsna c Or N and
Denmark by Politlken, All riehts strictly
reServedl
ABOARD STEAMSHIP QUEST. at
Sea on Spitzenherg. July 24.-The first
| thing we did after having taken Gen
! Mobile to the camp on RySs Tor Rus
siam Island was 10 put him into one of
our excellent sleeping bags and give him
the best possible food.
He had Swedish sandwiches. with
cheese, finely minced beef with roast
potatoes, and whisky to thaw him in
side, Of course he had cigarettes after
this meal
One Of the first remarks Gen. Mobile
made was that he couldn't sufficiently
express his admiration for the taste We
had shown in our choice of the articles
We had dropped from our planes TO the
1talia's survivors i'll their desolate camp
on the ice foe
When later I became one Of this
marooned group myself 7 appreciated
how Mobile felt when supplies came
down to lis from the air and we're
opened and examined.
'Swedes are practical folk" Gen. No
bile said.
repeat this remark, not to brag. but
simply as a proof Of the appreciation
which was shown the organization of
the Swedish expedition
Mobiles dog. Titina, shared the gen.
terafs first meal at RySs Island. but
wouldn't lie down in the generals
sleeping bag Therefore, the dog re-
ceived one of its own.
Made Big Fire.
BY means of that plentiful supply of
Siberian flrewood which drifts up on
the coast OF Northeast Land. and of
which Ryss Island gets its share. We
made tremendous FIRE. It gave good
heat and spread a still more cozy and
intimate atmosphere over the camp.
/ now told Gen, Mobile that, with
another Swedish airman. had flown
along with the Italia on her Journey
0NRAhA1Hahi aAAG AAuA4 NSNl4 x
her to Nynaeshamn. There we had
turned. Mobile remembered this cpl
Sode well. and promised to send me a
photograph of the escort, taken from
the Italia.
It seems strange fate had so wiiled il
that / should now have been inStru-
Mental in giving Gen Mobile rescuing
hand high up in the North. But there
was no more time for talk. Five men
still remained up there at the Italia s
oes0late camp. / had promised them
that would bring them all back to
safety knew they relied on my word
Therefore. must keep it. even though
1t would have been far more pleasant to
get little rest
informed Gen. Mobile that I must
start again for the Italias camp. He
didn't say much in reply. but his feel
ings were plainly visible in his glance
and gestures. His big. beautiful eyes.
tear-filled. were directed toward me
with pathetic expression Of hope and
gratitude. His last words to me we're:
When / see you all here again--my
comrades from out there on the ice
and yourself--it will be the happiest
moment Of my lifeA They deserve help,
those men,"
Deep Impression.
This simple leave-taking made a deep
impression on us Swedes. But / wanted
to shift into a lighter mood, as much
for Mobiles sake as for nay own. There
fore, I pulled myself together and re-
piled:
Wen be back soon with all of them. -
My comrades. headed by the chief,
now carried some cans of gasoline up to
my Fokker. This fuel had been brought
by the Han8a machine. ! wasn't al
lowed to lend hand in filling up the
tanks. My comrades wanted to make
everything ready for me to insure q
successful start.
now left my entire personal equip
ment-knapsack. sleeping bag. etc
there, The only things ! took were a
box of ammunition. my rife and little
chocolate. Then bade good-by 10 the
chief and the others and started the
Fokker. The plane was now very light.
This time few alone. The machine
raised itself from the ground almost
instantly. Flying low, / led 1t close
over my comrades. After they had sig
nailed me that the under edges Of the
skis we're fsultless ! got altitude and
steered eastward
Two Of my comrades, Jacobson and
ttoAefabFaefu, also Went up I'D lIleH
Hansa. This time II was their turn 10
escort me TO the ice foe. The fight cut
to Foyn Island was childs play I'm the
brilliantly beautiful weather Some
times was quite close To the Hansa.
At other times I went very low 10 look
AT the seals and the bear tracks again.
All the while In my innermost heart !
was treasuring the uncertain hope Of
seeing the missing Malmgren and his
.wo companions from the wrecked Italia.
Motor in Trouble.
When was half way between Foyn
and Broch islands my motor began
knocking What was / to do now? /
cut off and tried each OF the two petrol
tanks separately, because had been
| Instantly aware that something was
wrong with the gasoline. But it was
no iise. Going half-motared, the Fox
ker slowly lost height
was now considering whether
should try 10 land on a small ice foe
which had seen or whether / should
try landing In high" on Foyn Island,
The latter method meant putting the