Imperial Valley press., 1928-05-04
D|R|C|bLE
REACHES
YADS0E
italia" Makes Great Run
to Northern Tip of Nor
way Bound for Pole.
RIDES OUT STORM
Off Course Twice Though
Mobile Has No Difficult
ty in Recovering 1t.
BY United Press Leased Wire


VADSOE, Norway, May 4.-The
second part of a great air cruise
that will take the dirigible Italia
to the North Pole area was COM
pletcd today when Commander
Umbcrto Mobile brought his charge
t. Nadsoc.
He had fought severe head winds
for several hours and once the
course had been lost, but steadily
the dirigible sailed through the
night and appeared over VadsOe
only q few minutes after the time
the italian pilot had set for his ar
rival.
1t was shortly after a. m. that
the vessel circled the city and at
7:30 a. m. it was moored at the
mast.
The dirigible will lie re-fueled
and proceed to Kings Bay, Spitzber-
gen the base for Mobile s Polar
expedition of exploration when the
weather permits.
The Italia left Stolp, Germany at
3:25 a. m. Thursday and proceeded
on direct course to this city, on
the northern extremity of Norway.
The distance between the two points
hy airline is 1l60 miles.
Through Thursday the vessel pro-
ceeded at good speed. Flying con-
ditions We're reported perfect. But
with the night, Mobile apparently
| encountered difficulties.
Reports to Copenhagen from Hell
singfors said that at $50 p. nj. the
Italia reported it had lost it's bear
ings.
1--WE have lost our bearings over
the Gulf Of Bothnia,' radio mes.
sage said
The vessel finally reached Gamla
karleby at 9 p. m. and again lost
its bearings and flew north.
Later the dirigible was reported
over Rrahestad, again on the course.
The dirigible was fighting
heavy fog and strong head winds
but was proceeding directly toward
its port.
Then, shortly after 7 a. m, it app
Feared over Nadsoc.
Norwegian troops from the near
by garrison assisted in maneuvering
the Italia to the mooring mast.
As soon as the big dirigible had
landed safely, guns at the Norwe-
gian frontier fortress at Kivnesun.
which is opposite this city, doomed
out salute to the visiting aircraft.
Mobile descended from the Italia
smiling and told the United Press:
49, The journey was most satisfac-
tory.
KINGS BAY, Spitzbergen, May 4.
A furious snowstorm last night
damaged the hangar destined to
house the Italian Polar dirigible
Italia!
In consequence the weather bur.
eau has advised General Umbertd
Mobile, her commander, to postpone
his departure from Vadsoe, schedul-
cd for p. m. today.
The canvas walls of the hangar
were torn to ribbons. The road.
painstakingly built from the beach
to the hangar was destroyed.
The crew of General Nobile's 8 sup
ply ship Citta Di Milano is working
feverishly in an attempt to repair
the damage.
Rains today, a strong wind south
of Bears Island and frost from the
northward threaten danger of ice
accmulatiOns ON the Italia if the
flight is undertaken now.
When the dirigible does arrive,
it will bring together two of the
very select little group of men who
have viewed the great North pole
area.
Captain George Wilkins, who only
q fcw weeks ago flew over the area
with Carl Eielson from Point Bar
row, viii be among the group TO
greet Commander Mobiles expedi-
tiou.
Mobile, who flew over the polar
area with Roald Amumdsen and
Lincoln Ellsworth two years ago, il
returning here in the new dirigible
preparatory to additional explora-
ton flights.