16 JUNE 1928, Page 2

The anxiety about the fate of General Nobile and his

staff in the airship ' Italia ' was partly relieved at the end of last week when it became known that wireless messages had been received from him. The Italia,' probably owing to the weight of ice on it, came down not far north of North East Land. The airship landed heavily and the gondola was wrenched from its attach- ments. No one was killed. The airship with part of the crew drifted away from the gondola and the whole company was thus divided into two groups. General Nobile himself is with the gondola party, who are on drifting ice. The exact position of the other party is unknown. Relief is being sent as quickly as possible.