Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-13
DETAILS OF WILKINS
SUB VOYAGE Barred
Letter to Jahncke Reveals
! Plans for Cruise Across
Pole Under Ice.

Further details Of Sir Hubert VIII
kins' proposal to 60 beneath the ice in
the obsolete submarine Ola from Spitz-
bergen, across the North Pole, to the
Boring Sea was made public in a
Secretary Ernest Lee Jahncke by Sloan
Danenhower, former Naval Reserve
lieutenant commander.
The Ola, now out of commission at
Philadelphia, under the wilkins pro-
gram, would be equipped with an air
observation balloon, with television and
radio, and have machinery calculated
30 bore through Ice so fest thick.
Mr.. Jahncke said, with reference to
the proposal:
Here Is an undertaking that would
bring Jules Verne into the twentieth
century"
81, Great Spaces of Open Water.
3 Last Friday Capt. wilkins with Simon
Lake, submarine inventor and builder,
and Danenhower, who Is president Of
the Lake-Danenhower Corporation,
called upon Jahncke in person. The
letter submitted yesterday was in an
swer to the latter's request that the
matter be put in writing. He has al
ready replied, saying the request Is I'M
der consideration.
p. The letter stated no great unbroken
foes had been observed In the Arctic
regions, and that there were no ice
: bergS there Of great size. Over IS per
cent of the distance from Spitzbergen
d, to the Boring Sea, 1t said, could be
/. sailed in open water.
90 On much of the remainder of the
route, the letter added, estimates placed
the ice depth at 10 feet, due to the
AZ IN Ct.Y
: Gould Rise in Any 1o-MiIe Area.
"a submarine should be able to rise
within 10 miles of any given spot IN
the Arctic Ocean," 1t was said
The submarine would be equipped
with "a telescope coming tower for
the purpose of drilling ice," and in this
matter it was estimated ice of 10 feet
thickness could be opened for sufficient
distance to permit the submarine to
emerge.
Another device would be provided,
however, capable of drilling through
ice up to so feet thick. opening q hole
OF sufficient size to enable air to be
: renewed, engine exhausts discharged
and the batteries recharged.
An observation chamber would be
built into the prov, and finely focused
lights provided, which would penetrate
the water for some distance ahead. In
addition, a compression chamber would
be added. in order that men In diving
suits could move in and out Of the sub
merged craft
Navigate by Compass.
With this equipment, It was estimated
q submarine could move under the ice
at an average speed Of 4 knots an hour.
with little danger of damage by COLI
sion. Navigation would be managed en-
ttrely by magnetic compasses.
Danenhower, in his letter, said that
If the Navy granted their request for
charter on the Ola, he would COM
p1and the craft, while Capt. wilkins
would lead the expedition. He said DIR.
II. Sverdrup. chief scientist Of the
Fran expedition, had also been en-
listed and that he would apply to the
Norwegian Geophysical Institute for
permission to serve as chief of the
scientific staff Of the expedition.
London Treaty Plays Part.
Danehower answered an objection
previously voiced by Assistant Secretary
Jahncke that the chartering of such a
submarine might run afoul of the pro-
vision OF the London naval treaty
which specifically mentions experiment
tai submarines. Danenhower suggested
that provision be made for the craft
upon completion of its voyage to be
strapped or returned to the Govern
ment for scrapping.