AT THE BAY OF WHALES

Evening Star, Issue 20062, 31 December 1928, Page 5

AT THE BAY OF WHALES

FUTURE BASE By Russell Owen. Copyrighted 192 S by the New York ‘ Times ’ Company and the St. Louis ‘Post-Despatch.’ All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to the New York ‘Times.’ ROSS SEA, December 29. “Our future home for a year lies just ahead, shrouded in a haze that conceals the end of the bay. We have just tied up to the bay ice, which it heavy, and extends out many miles from Framheim, Captain Amundsen’s old station place, near which the expedition expects to have its wintei quarters. Commander Byrd, with Balchen, Petersen, Brathen, and two doe teams driven by WakUr and Vaughan, are going inland in two or three hours to try and find a site for a. base, and, it possible, try to locate Framheim. “ We reached here early this morning. and found it was impossible to get more than u short distance into the bay, which is usually not clear of ice until about a fortnight from now, but the weather is good, and there is a strong tide or current breaking oti parts ot tho ice continually, and it may be possible to take considerable material ashore oven before tho ice goes altogether. The dogs and sleds, with large amounts of stores, may be moved some time before we arc able to get up the barrier, which is very low at this point. The dog drivers arc busily packing the sleds with loud for a week, as well as with tents, sleeping bags, and a radio outfit, so that if the ship is forced to put out by a storm they will be able to get along comfortably until we return. The sleds are on the ice alongside the ship, with the men busily engaged getting their gear together on them, so the work ashore may be said to have actually started. “ Evervone is elated at being here and also at the calm weather, which hue; been predicted for the Bay of W hales but of which we had been sceptical, There is an unusual haze over the ice and it is impossible to sec more thar a few miles . Beyond that mysterious curtain of blue and white, lies tho tremendous territory which is to be explored, and it is about as forbidding to day in this grey light as could be- imagined. It is a cheerless rdnee, grinenough to discourage the most avdonl real estate auctioneer. Comma ndci Byrd expects to stay away for a day oi two, and our activities for the next twe weeks will depend largely upon what lit learns of the ice conditions on his long trip inland. “ The commander has appointed Lanrj Gould, the geologist, second in command down here, ns Brophy. the regular second in command, is in New Zealand. Gould is popular on tho ship and for the last- week has been ready tc supervise the unloading, which will lit a difficult- and possibly a dangerous task if it is done on the bay ice.”