ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

Evening Star, Issue 20375, 6 January 1930, Page 10

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

THE WILKINS EXPEDITION PREPARING FOR GREAT ADVENTURE I’rfts* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON. January 5. (Received January 6, at 11.45 a.m.) A copyright message from Sir Hubert Wilkins at Deception Island, dated January’ 3, states: “I am now able to give details of the flight which permitted us to-explore and chart 300 additional miles of tho coast line of Hcarst Land on December 31. The temperature was 29 deg below zero when we set out. We headed southward, and soon saw the dim outline of Alexander the First Island. Fifty minutes’ flying brought us to the black peaks of Charcot Land, which we found to bo an island. This island is roughly .hamshaped, forking .westward. It is sixty miles east-west and forty north-south. At our greatest height of 2,000 ft wo could see Mount Ranck towards tho coast and Finley’ Island on the horizon. We saw low-level sea ice, interspersed with ibebergs, continuing through the straits, showing, as last year’s discoveries indicated, that'there was a channel between Grahamland and the main body of the Polar continent. Wo named it Stefansson Strait. We circled Charcot Island, south and westward, to 80dog west longitude. There tho low coast is undoubtedly a continu ation of Hearst Laud. It is partly broken with mountains, sloping, and snow covered. The coast was indistinct in tho distance. Wo cruised hereabouts for two hours, charting and photographing, then returned to the ship. Aided by a tail wind -wo wore back in 241 minutes after tho take off. The petrol was practically exhausted. We have made tho -longest possible flight in this location—67deg 47min south latitude, 75deg 21min west longitude. The need for fuel for tho steamer prevents , a further westward search. We must turn back to Deception Island. Our efforts will be concentrated on a search for flat ice, whence we shall take off for the great adventure—the Ross Sea flight, over the entire Antarctic, continent, to visit Rear-admiral Byrd’s Little America. . The plane’s wing-tip was smashed as it was lifted aboard, but tho damage is not serious.”