Imperial Valley press., 1928-05-28
FATE Of
ITALIANS
MYSTERY
Giant Dirigible Is Long
Overdue Following Trip
To Polar Regions.
AIRPLANES TO HELP
Provisions Sufficient for
Month May Enable Crew
To Subsist Long Time.
By LARS HENSON
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent)

NOnlteo Press starr correspondent
KINGS BAY, Spitzbergen, May
28-Modern and primitive means
OF transportation were combined to-
day in attempting to find the polar
dirigible Italia and her crew of l6
men, now more than 125 hours out
of Kings Bay, from where she start
ed with a fuel supply for only 70
hours of flying.
Air, water and hard packed snow
Cf the northland will be used as
trails for the adventurers who have
volunteered to go to the rescue of
General Umberto Mobile and his
aides of the Italia.
Meanwhile, hour after hour pass
ed with no word of the fate of the
dirigible which last week scared
over the north pole and then headed
into the Arctic STORM that ripped
her cover, disabled an engine and
finally silenced her radio.
An airplane, steamships, and
dog team were ready TO set out to-
day in relief attempts and strange
ly enough, greatest rescue hopes
centered in the most primitive mode
of travel.
The famed Norwegian hunter,
Moy, volunteered his services and
some time today will leave with q
little group of Eskimos behind
dog team. They will go to the vi
cinity of 81 degrees north latitude
and between II and % degrees east
ngiture-north of Spitzbergen
from where the last known direct
message from Mobile is believed to
have originated
Communications direct from the
Italia ceased Friday. Fears were
expressed that silence from then on
may have meant the crippled air
craft had been forced down.
Relief Ship Stranded
1t was believed the Last message
was sent from the general vicinity
of 81 degrees north and II degrees
east. Therefore, Moy, experienced
in finding his way about the un-
marked northern territory, chose
that vicinity to start his relief ex-
pedition. He plans to search the
region between II and % degrees
east longitude.
The Citta di Milano, relief ship
that served as supply base for the
Italia here, is stranded near Am
sterdam by packed ice. Every eff
fort is being made to proceed but
thus far reports indicated these ef-
forts have been unavailing.
The Norwegian vessel Hobby will
leave for Tromsoe with Lieutenant
Lutzow Holm, Norwegian aviator
and an airplane aboard. The Hobby
is scheduled to make searches in the
immediate Kings Bay area.
The steamship Bragansa, reports
said, had been chartered by the
Italian government and will leave
here today to aid in the search.
Possibly one or two of the vessels
may have dog sleds and hunters a.
board to make scouting expeditions.
The dirigible Italia left Kings
Bay Wednesday morning bound on
its third and most adventurous
cruise of the present north polar :
expedition There were Is men a
board, including Mobile. The fuel
supply was for ~ hours in the air.
The food supply was estimated to
be sufficient for one month.
Battled Storm
Flying conditions were more than
fair. Once headwinds were report.
ed but the Italia flew them out.
Then the dirigible progressed stead
lily until it circled the north pole
and for two hours the explorer
made observations at the pole.
The return was started. FLYING
conditions were good for a period.
Then came head winds. Mobile re-.
ported these in his messages TO the
Citta di Milano. Flying speed was
retarded and at times the craft
made only 40 kilometers an hour.