BYRD ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21084, 8 February 1934, Page 10

BYRD ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

URGENT NEED OF DOCTOR JACOB RUPPERT ON WAY TO NEW ZEALAND (r*KSS ASSOCIATION TILEORAtt.) WELLINGTON, February 7. A wireless message from RearAdmiral R. E. Byrd, received today by Mr T. J. Gardiner, local agent for the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, asked him to obtain urgently a fully qualified doctor and surgeon. The doctor is required to act as medical officer at the base of the expedition in Little America for at least 12 months.

Word was received in Duncdin v to-night from Mr J. 11. Duncan, c manager for Messrs H. L. Tapley and Company, agents for the Byrd c Expedition, who is at present in >1 Christchurch, that Dr. Shirey, of s the expedition, is seriously ill. Dr. 1 Shirey will return immediately by the Jacob Ruppert. The wireless message, which was sent on Tuesday, also stated that the 2 Jacob Ruppert was expected to •, leave the ice barrier that day on I her return trip to New Zealand. She was expected to arrive about the end of next week. If a doctor is " available to make the trip to Little j America the Jacob Ruppert will i probably need to make a further f voyage to the Antarctic. It is thought likely that one of the aeroplanes at the base for the expedir tion will arrange to meet the Jacob . Ruppert some distance from the I Bay of Whales, and pick up the doctor, and allow the Jacob Rup- , pert to return immediately to New Zealand without making the trip right back to the ice barrier. ;