"BAD TIME."

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 6, 8 January 1934, Page 5

"BAD TIME."

POLAR EXPEDITION.

WYATT EARP IN PACK ICE.

EADIO TTTBES DAMAGED.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day. "."Lieutenant English, the commander of the Byrd expedition supply ship Bear of Oakland, says that the Lincoln Ellsworth expedition in the Wyatt Earp must be having a bad time in the pack ice. The Wyatt Earp entered the pack ice on December 15, in latitude 63 deg. 17- min south, and longitude 174 deg. east, a position indicating that the ice belt is much further north than in normal yeare. 'On Saturday Admiral Byrd had received a radio message from the \Yyatt Earp stating that the pack ice was extremely heavy, with practically no "leads" showing in it anywhere from the ship. Thus the Wyatt Earp has already been 22 days in the. pack ice, aid there is still no indication when she is likely to get clear. Captain English mentioned that probably the reason why no Press messages had been received recently from the Wyatt Earp was that she had been havin" trouble with her.radio apparatus, and was short of tubes. The concussion to the ship caused by her ramming the pack ice, or being bumped herself by the ice, had broken a number of tubes in the transmitting apparatus. Being; short of spare tubes she was conserving those she had, and was only sending absolutely essential messages. •The Wyatt Earp sailed from Dunedin oh December 5. A message on December 11 stated that she had experienced a smooth weather trip up till that time,' and another message on December lo said that the first icebergs had been sighted. On December 18 a third message stated that the ship was about 200 miles insido the polar ice pack, and was held uj). No further word has since been received from the ship. -The Byrd expedition sailed from Wellim'ton on December 17, a.week after, the departure of the Wyatt Earp.