BYRD’S EXPEDITION

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1930, Page 3

BYRD’S EXPEDITION

. -■■■ — ICE DELAYS SHIP. (By Cable—Press Assn. —Copyright.) BAY OF WHALES, February 15. The “City of New York” ljas made littlo headway in the last 24 hours, although the gale is subsiding somewhat. The greatest difficulty is from the ice, which coating the ship. As tho seas roll over it. the spray freezes on the masts, yards, and rigging, as well as on the decks and sides. Every man aboard has been chopping the ice away. This ice invasion is the greatest source of anxiety, now that the winter is approaching rapidly, and the gales aro sure to continue intermittently. The wind has decreased to eight miles an hour here to-day, and shifting air current might help the “City of New York,” but at her present rate of progress, the situation is far from reassuring.

LATER. The City of New York is still two hundred miles away. Captain Melville is apparently trying to get. into tlio lee of the Barrier, where the seas will be less severe, and he can make more headway against the wind, which still holds from the cast here, and is southeast at the ship. Then he can turn to the east and skirting the barrier, reach the Bay of Whales. He reports choppy seas, which confirm the impression among the sailors here that he is getting under the lee of the barrier. A-blizzard is blowing, however, and visibility is very poor. He does not mention the formation of ice on the ship to-day. so apparently that condition is not getting worse, and he winds up his message by saying “all well.” The ship's crew must be worn out, however, as theyvhave had a. continual gale and battle with high seas and ice since leaving the pack. If all goes well, they sholud reach here in a few days. Wo certainly hope so, as the calm spell now will bring freezing weather. SIR 11. WILKINS. NEW YORK, February 15. Sir H. Wilkins and party have left Deception Island aboard the “Hendrik Ibsen” for Monte Video. The expedition has completed its work for this year.

“NOBILE” .REPORT. ROME, February 16. Tlie report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Nobile expedition censures Nobile for endeavouring- to incriminate his followers by his public utterances and newspaper articles. It emphasises that Mariano displayed magnificent qualities of leadership, particularly in organising the expedition, which set out to search for help.