CREVASSED AREA

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 46, 18 November 1929, Page 11

CREVASSED AREA

SAFELY PASSED BY BYRD’S GEOLOGICAL PARTY CAMPED WELL TO THE SOUTH (United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (By Russell Owen. —Special to “New York Times.”) (Rec. November 17, 5.5 p.m.) Bay of Whales, November 17. The geological party safely passed the crevassed region lying across their route to the Queen Maud Mountains. They camped last night well to the south of that amazing area. FICKLE WEATHER UNSUITABLE FOR POLAR FLIGHT Bay of Whales, November 14. The weather continues fickle. It makes exploring and flying seem unlikely until early in December. A dump valve is being ’made for the big Ford aeroplane, so that, if necessary, part of the fuel load can be dropped on the polar flight. If a forced landing were made the ship would be lightened, and if a motor failed the fuel would also be dropped, so that the remaining motors might carry the ’plane out from the plateau to where a landing could be made on the barrier near the inland base. The ’plane must fly at such a high altitude over the 10,000 ft. plateau that the release of even a small part of the fuel load would make a great difference in flying.

(Copyrighted 1028 by “New York Times” Company and “St Louis Post-Dispatch.” All rights for publication reserved throughout the world.] WINTRY CONDITIONS AT DECEPTION ISLAND UNLOADING WILKINS’S MACHINES London, November 15. Sir Hubert Wilkins, in a radio message from Deception Island, states that unloading is in full swing. “We have inspected things ashore on the one fine day which followed the mooring of the Melville,” says the message, “after which the weather was bad, and the snow lay deep over Deception Island. Our two aeroplanes are unscathed, except that one stabiliser was slightly strained, but is easily repairable. Supplies are coming out of the ship in perfect shape. Penguins trustfully and gravely watched the unloading of the machines. “Half a gale sprang up during the second night, and the force of the wind increased during the day, bringing rain and sleet. The conditions are miserably cold, yet the work goes on. We unloaded the automobiles to-day. Cheeseman claims the credit of driving the first ordinary passenger automobile in Antarctica."