BYRD EXPEDITION

Evening Star, Issue 21905, 17 December 1934, Page 11

BYRD EXPEDITION

EVACUATION PLANS DEPENDENT ON PACK ICE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LITTLE AMERICA, December 14. Discussing the evacuation plans of the expedition, Admiral Byrd to-day pointed out that these would depend on the condition of the ice pack. He recalled that in 1930 the City of New York was unable to reach the Bay of Whales until February 19. The tw,o vessels of this expedition, the /Bear o) Oakland and the Jacob Ruppert, were scheduled to leave New Zealand on December 27 and January 16- respectively, but he believed that in no event would the expedition be able to start on the return trip before February 6, allowing the scientific staff time to complete local investigations. The three field expeditions were all en route_ to the camp now. Blackburn’s geological party, which penetrated within 182 nautical miles of the South Pole, was starting back the track down the 100mile slope of the Thorne Glacier. The tractor and sledging parties reported fair progress, with the midsummer sun rising higher daily further along the range. Aeroplane explorations were virtually impossible, as it was difficult to take off in the slushy snow. A flight to the north-east might be attempted, however, if unusually favourable weather conditions developed.