A GREAT LEADER

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 36, 6 November 1928, Page 10

A GREAT LEADER

COMMANDER BYRD INTERVIEWED WHAT HE HOPES TO DO It needed but a few minutes on board the Norwegian whaling factory ship C. A. Larsen yesterday to learn why Commander Richard Byrd is admired and loved by the men he leads. He impresses one at first sight. A tallish, slim figure in his naval uniform, lie has a frank, open manner, and n handsome face. Of swarthy complexion, with his skin tanned by the tropical sun, his black hair is now thickly tinged with grey. He has a pleasant speaking voice, with the soft slurring accent of the Virginian. With twenty years of distinguished service in tlie navy, and a post-war flying record that has made him not only a national hero, but world famous, this very gallant American gentleman has all the qualities that make for greatness. He has been officially cited twenty times for bravery or conspicuous conduct in the service of his country. He has received the thanks of Congress as well as the highest honours his country can give—Congressional Medal of Honour, Congressional Life-sav-ing Medal. Distinguished Service Medal, and the Flying Cross. His smile ami his quiet voice do not always hide the air ot iron determination that has enabled him to achieve great tilings. Yet such is his always modest bearing that it is difficult to realise that this quiet-spoken man has flown to the North Bole and back in a day, and for nearly two days across tlie Atlantic, and that he plans to fly to the South Pole and back. Interest in New Zealand. “I do want to say,” he remarked to a “Dominion” reporter, “how very pleased I am to come to New Zealand. I have read alt the books on the Antarctic and so many famous expeditions and explorers who have visited your country have referred to the kindly treatment they received here that I for my part am very "■lad to come, and I have no doubt I shall find New Zealand and its people just as interesting as they did. It is very pleasing to me to know that I may meet Sir Douglas Mawsoil during my stay here, for be is a great scientist who achieved great things in the Antarctic. Expedition’s Main Objects. “I wish to emphasise that this venture of ours is a strictly scientific one, and in no sense merely an aeroplane dash lor the Pole. We want to stay in the Antarctic long enough to get really valuable scientific data. I cannot hope to do as much as Scott or Shackleton or Mawson, but if we can succeed in adding a little bit to dur scientific knowledge of the Antarctic, I shall be satisfied. Scott’s first expedition did a very great deal, thanks to the great scientists he had with him. .Shackleton’s expedition was one of the most wonderful achievements in the history of Polar exploration. Both Scott and .Shackleton, who had to do everything on foot in the face of tremendous obstacles were great men.” Commander Byrd said lie had found it difficult to know exactly what scientific men to take with him in order not to cover old ground. Lieut. Shropshire, who spent some time with the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism at Washington, would devote much tim - to magnetic survey work. “We have also a geologist and meteorologist and an aerologist, who will study conditions in the upper air, a very important branch of work. There is also a topographer, surveyor and geographer, all in one, a physicist, and a glaciologist to study ice and other formations. A most important work we hope to do is a geographical survey of the vast unknown region lying to the east and south of our base. We shall be right near the edge of this unexplored territory, and if we can get proper flying conditions we shall endeavour to map it thoroughly with our aerial cameras in charge of experts in this work. The camera will take automatic pictures which can be worked up into maps that will be quite accurate. In favourable weather we can do that work at 80 to 90 miles an hour and so cover a vast area.”

Commander Byrd said lie hoped to get a boring plant before leaving New Zealand to be used in determining the depth of the Antarctic ice cap at various places in their effort to solve some of the problems of the great continent. He made it clear that lie would not attempt to fly across to the Weddell Sea, but if he reached the Pole he would return to his base on a slightly different course from the outward one. In conclusion Commander Byrd expressed his gratitude for and appreciation of the courtesy and hospitality extended to him by the Government nnd the Harbour Board. He was met on board the ship in the stream by the American Consular representative. Mr. B. Gottlieb, Mr. W. Ardell, of tlie Internal Affairs Department. Captain Dawson, harbourmaster, Mr. A. G. Barnett, secretary of the Harbour Board, nnd many others. ]Other reports relating to the expedition appear on page 13. f