A THIRD ATTEMPT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 170, 2 May 1935, Page 5

A THIRD ATTEMPT

FLIGHT ACROSS ANTARCTICA. WILKIN&-ELLSWORTH PLAN. TWO PILOTS WANTED. (United Press Association—Copyright). TORONTO, April 30. Sir Hubert Wilfrins interviewed air pilots here and will interview others in Western Canada with a view to rinding two men to accompany him and Mr Lincoln Ellsworth on what may be the first non-stop, 2900 - mile flight across the Antarctic.

The explorers favour Canadian pilots as they are the only ones, with the possible exception of Russians, with sufficient experience of similar climatic conditions.

Only two pilots will travel with the expedition, which, it is stated, will leave the United States early in October with plans practically the same as those for the attempt in 1933, when the expedition's 'plane was crushed in an ice fissure.

From a base on the Weddell Sea, the flight will be across the South Pole to the other side of the continent foi the purpose of determining whether Antarctica is one continent.

In 1933, Mr Ellsworth proposed to fly from the Ross Sea to the Weddell Sea and back, non-stop, , but not to pass over the South Pole. The distance was to be about 2900 miles. Last year his plan was to fly from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea, about 2000 miles, but engine trouble developed early in the summer and When it was overcome the expedition could not find a suitable snowfield from which to take off. Mr Bernt Balchen was to have been the pilot. Rear-Admiral R. E. Byrd claims to have proved that the Antarctic Continent was not divided, as was thought possible, but a huge strait. ;