SOUTH POLAR REGION

Evening Star, Issue 21881, 19 November 1934, Page 9

SOUTH POLAR REGION

TWO SEPARATE CONTINENTS CONFIRMED BY ADMIRAL BYRD Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LITTLE AMERICA, November 17. Long-sought evidence confirming the existence of a transcontinental passage dividing Antarctica was found by Admiral Byrd, who flew over the region in what he described as the most important discovery of his career as an explorer. After flying about 770 miles in 6hr 50min, he reported he had aerially surveyed 60,000 square miles of the area between the Queen Maud and Edsel Ford mountain ranges. He said he had noted enough geological evidences to compel radical revision of the existing ideas of Antarctica’s continental structure, if not to prove that there are two continents instead of one in the south polar region. The party included June (pilot), William Bowling (second pilot), Kenneth R.nwson (navigator), and Clay Bailey (radio operator).

The triangle that Admiral Byrd plotted had its apex in latitude 81.05 south, longitude 140.30 west, at which point the surface of the barrier dipped substantially enough to convince him that the long-sought strait lay underneath water-borne ice. From here the flight swung northward into Marie Byrd Land, where he found a mountain range of “ majestic size,” which Admiral Byrd believes is either a separate continent from the main mass of Antarctica or an insular group welded together by an ice sheet. As further proof of his conclusions, Admiral Byrd reported that at the lowest latitude reached, about where he believed the water passage between the land formations should be, he noted unusual crevasse formations and snow colourings that he is positive mark the meeting place of land and sea ice.

Or returning, Admiral Byrd revealed that he may have completed his last flight on the expedition. Physical depletion resulting from his long isolation at the Bolling base taxes him more heavily than he realised. Contrary to hopes, he has failed to make a rapid recovery since he returned, and he believes that making dangerous flights is unfair to his companions, as he would be a burden to them in case of a forced landing on an isolated section.