Professor Samoilovitch Jewish Leader of Krassin Polar Rescue Expedition Flying to North Pole with Gr

Professor Samoilovitch, commander of the Soviet ice-breaker Krassin, which rescued members of the ill-fated Nobile North Polar expedition, will fly to the North Pole this summer with Dr. Eckener on the Graf Zeppelin, the “Daily Express” states to-day.

The express purpose of the flight, said Dr. Eckener, the “Express” reports, is to make an attempt to establish contact with, and if possible to meet, at or near the North Pole, the submarine expedition of Sir Hubert Wilkins in Nautilus II.

Forty-two persons will be aboard the Zeppelin, representing Germany, England, the United States, and Soviet Russia.

If the Zeppelin actually gets in touch with the Nautilus at or near the Pole a landing may be made from the airship.

I am proud to be a Jew: I have never concealed my Jewish origin, Professor Samoilovitch told the J.T.A. representative in Moscow after his rescue of members of the “Italia” Polar Expedition in 1928. It is an honour, he said, to belong to such a distinguished people. At the time of the pogrom in Odessa, in 1905, Professor Samoilovitch said, he had led a self-defence group, consisting of 38 members, only 7 of whom survived the bullets of the Czarist soldiers.

In 1909, the Czarist Government had asked Professor Samoilovitch to join their Polar Commission. He had telegraphed in reply that he could not come, because Jews were forbidden to enter St. Petersburg. He had gone, however, when they sent him a special invitation, but at the opening of the first session of the Commission he had declared: I am a Jew, and if I am not wanted here because I am a Jew, I shall withdraw. He was, however, urged to remain.

Professor Samoilovitch said that he continues to be greatly interested in the future of the Jews.