Evening star., 1928-06-09
ITALIA ON ICE CAP,
DIRIGIBLE'S RADIO
SIGNALS INDICATE

Continued from First Page)
Bay, the base for which the Italia was
headed, when the radio contact was lost
on the morning OF May 25. The
dirigible was returning from success
full flight to the North Pole. where a
cross presented by the Pope to Gen
Mobile and the flags Of Italy and Milan
were dropped on May "a, having left
Kings Bay at 4:30 am on May %.
When the contact was lost with the
Italia 1t was believed To be about 200
miles north by west of the point where
she is now reported to have come down.
Danish and Swedish Whalers visited
the district to the north of Cape Leigh
Smith as early as the latter part of the
eighteenth century. Generally these
islets are mountainous. rising from 300
to 900 feet above the sea- although
some are merely craggy rocks OF 400
feet or less elevation.
Months Food Supplies.
Game Is scarce and vegetation prac-
tically unknown in this section of the
Archipelago. The airship had food sup
plies aboard sufficient for one month
and no fear was felt yet that the crew
was on the verge of starvation. The
food consisted principally of pemmican
and chocolate
The crew was well equipped to bat
tie with the perils of the Arctic. Skis,
sledges, Canadian snowshoes and sleep
ing sacks Of reindeer skin were aboard
the airship
The belief has long been held that
the Italia might be found of the north
ern coast of SpitZbergen On the night
of May "a the airship's course was 1872
degrees east This headed her for Hin
lopen Strait. the passage between the
main island or SpitZbergen and North
east Land. ts 4,
Whether Lieut.. Holm would be able
TO fly to the rescue of Gen. Mobile APP
peared doubtful from the orders sent
the Hobby by the Citta di Milano. One
assumption was that there might be no
open water In the vicinity which would
permit him TO take of In his seapiane
or that the water, being fun OF Jagged
pack Ice, would make such an attempt
perilous. 1t was thought that the COM
r1ander of the Citta di Milano, having
learned of this. had therefore instructed
the Hobby 10 use the most ancient
means of Arctic travel-dog sledS--for
the rescue work.
Hope Almost Gertrude.
Although the authorities were not yet
quite wiling 10 exclude the theory
that the messages picked up by the
Citta di Milano might have been the
work Of some flendish practical joker
sending In the Italia's name, hope be-
came almost certitude today in Rome.
II was believed that the rescue OF Gen.
Mobile and his companions was In sight.
The authorities pointed out that the
messages were obviously from trained
wireless operator, presumably either
Radio Operator Biagi OF the ltaila or
Gen. Mobile himself Also the messages
were sent In italian style" every ma
tion having a special way OF trans
mitting. They were in perfect Italian.
There was decrease In the intensity
OF the messages received by the Cttta
di Milano and this was held 10 show
that the transmitting station was oi
limited power, as is the case of the
Italia'g emergency set. Prof. Mobile
the brother Of the general, departed
! from the reserve he has shown hitherto
10 say be had the best OF hope.
Identification Asked.
That the Citta III Milano was taking
no chances Of being led OF on a ialse
scent was shown by an intercepted
message in which the base snip asked
Giuseppe BiOgi, the radio operator OF
the Italia. 10 transmit his identificatlon
serial number In the italian navy.
| The Citta ID MilAno was calling the
| Italia hourly AT Is minutes past each
| hour on a wave length of 300 meters
and has asked the local station at San
/ PaOlo 10 FetransEnit the messages In the
! belief that the Italia may hear the
/ more powerful plant better.
Advices from Milan said that r9in
/ and cloudy skies made IL extremely un'
| likely that the Eay0ia-5 SIS, which Is being
prepared to 20 ~ EpitzbeTgen, viii be
| able 10 start lIOfthward before Sunday
AMUaDsEN CREDITS SIGNALS.