POLAR REGIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 12, 15 January 1934, Page 7

POLAR REGIONS.

AIR RECONNAISANCE.

Byrd Makes Seaplane Flight in Antarctica. SEARCH FOR SOUTH PASSAGE. (United P.A.—Electric Telcgrapn—-Copyright}. NEW YORK, January 14. A further wireless message has been received from Rear-Admiral Byrd's Antarctic Expedition on the Jacob Ruppert as follows: — On Thursday Rear-Admiral Byrd, accompanied by Messrs. H. I. June, W. M. Bowl in (of tlio aviation staff), and C. 0. Peterson (cinema operator), made a third aerial exploration of the Pacific quadrant, starting from a stietcli of open water a few miles south of the northern edge of the main ice-pack. The position was latitude CO degrees 50 minutes south, longitude 152 .dcgiccs 21 minutes west. The seaplane followed tho 152 nd meridian to 71 degrees 45 minutes south and was Admiral Byrd's sixth record southing by ship and seaplane along tho 1000-mile icc front in three weeks. Thick weather caused tho flyers to turn northward two hours five minutes after their departure. On their return Admiral Byrd said: "We saw no land, and it is pretty safe to say that none exists nearej ijian the coastal fronts of King Edward VII. and Marie Byrd Lands." The rapid alternation of temperatures constitutes a serious factor. _ At one period to-day even the huskies were panting, with their tongues hanging out, and the glass was showing 40 decrees. A few hours later overcast skies and a driving snow squall blotted everything from sight. It was just a matter of a few hours from, sunstroke to pneumonia. In search of a favourable southern passage to Little America the Jacob Ruppert on Friday steered a westerly course along the northern edge of tho pack. Her noon position was latitude 69 degrees, longitude 155 degrees 05 minutes. Tho sky was overcast and a strong north-west wind churned the sea.

Convinced by his seaplane flights that there is no back passage into Little America in this vicinity Admiral Byrd ordered the ship westward. After two hours of manoeuvring she finally gained open water.

Several times during the night it was necessary to steer north to avoid north-ward-reaching tongues of ice. The ship frequently was menaced by numerous "growlers" adrift before the wind.