BYRD’S EXPEDITION

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1930, Page 5

BYRD’S EXPEDITION

ICE PACK DIFFICULTIES.

[By Bussell Owen-Copyright by Sydiiey “Sun” and New York limes, j

(By Cable—Press, Assn.—Copyright.)

BAY OF WHALES, January 17. The City of New York is 300 miles north of Scott Island. She should reach the pack ice in a few days. vv hat she will find then, and when she will be able to get through the ice, is the subject of frequent conversation 4the camp. There is an unusually heavy ice pack this year. It has made us doubt many times whether the ships can penetrate it, and everything depends on the rapidity with which the pack ice disintegrates in the next few days. The pack is now wider at the 118th meridan than at any time since the whalers have been coming south. For the first time, the whales did not appear in large numbers south of the pack, and those few which were found were badly scarred by the ice. Commander Byrd is unconcerned about the situation. The only disagreeable aspect is that the ships may arrive so late that the loading may be hurried or curtailed, in our speed to get out before the freeze up. The summer season is short in the Antarctic. Already the days are a little cooler and the wind nips.

ANTARCTIC CLUB DINNER

■ LONDON, January 18. A huge Weddell seal, carved in ice, was placed before Admiral Skelton, Chairman of the Antarctic Club, at a dinner at the Cafe Royal. The toast of those who went to the Antarctic and never returned was honoured in silence.

Admiral Skelton, rising at 9 o’clock, toasted the Antarctic explorers scattered throughout the world. He stated that a similar toast was being honoured in Australia and other places simultaneously.

D. E. Benham, Director of the Scott Institute at Cambridge, recalled that there were four expeditions at present in the Antarctic, the largest number since 1910. He especially referred to the activities of the airmen. He mentioned that Dr. Mawson expected to alight and establish British ownership to territory which he discovered, which was the basis of all expeditions.

Captain A. B. Armitage, of the Discovery Expedition, 1901, was elected President.