PLANS ALTERED.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19505, 29 December 1928, Page 13

PLANS ALTERED.

DISCOVERY INLET AS BASE. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.; WELLINGTON, December 28. Close touch with the Byrd expedition is being maintained by the second-in-command, Mr E. Brophy, who is still in Wellington. He received a radio message from Commander Byrd yesterday morning, reporting the arrival at Discovery Inlet, and from this he concluded that the Bay of Whales, where it had been proposed to establish the expedition's base, had been found to be full of ice. "Commander Byrd reported that Discovery Inlet still contained a great deal of ice, but evidently, ■'' remarked Mr Brophy, "it is going to be clear much earlier than the Bay of Whales. This possibility had been foreseen by Commander Byrd, whose plan provided for establishing the base at Discovery Inlet should the ship be unable to get into the Bay of Whales." Mr Brophy said that Commander Byrd would probably get an aeroplane ashore as soon as possible, in order to make observation flights. lie would also put the dogs ashore to exercise them after their confinement on the ship. It had been proposed, added Mr Brophy, to take a further supply of fresh meat south in the Eleanor Boiling on her next trip, but Commander Byrd had reported getting an adequate supply of seal meat, so this would not be necessary. Mr Brophy will leave Wellington tonight for Dunedin to supervise the loading of stores and equipment into the Eleanor Boiling, which is to leave for the Ross Sea between January sth and 10th. ELEANOR BOLLING'S SECOND TRIP. [THE PEESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, December 23. A full shipment of stores and equipment will be carried by the Antarctic Expedition ship Eleanor Boiling from Dunedin to the Bay of Whales (Ross Sea). Loading operations are now being carried out at the Victoria Wharf. About 260 tona of Westport

coal will also be shipped by the Eleanor - | Boiling from tho steamer Opihi. The Expedition ship will leave Dunedin between January sth and Bth, and if she has a clear passage through the ice-pack should reach the base at the Barrier about January 20th. .