BYRD DEFENDED

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 5 December 1929, Page 5

BYRD DEFENDED

REPLY TO NORWEGIAN GRAN’S REMARKS RESENTED. ONE OF SCOTT’S PARTY SPEAKS. iu mteil Press Association—By Electric Teiegra|>ii Copyright.) LONDON, Dec. 4. Mr Herbert George Pouting, F.R.G.S., iv-iio was photographer officer in Uapiituin Scott s fast, expedition, in a letter m tli© “Daily Mail,” spearing for ah ocott's comrades, denounced tne whole tone and spirit of the remarks by Major urrail, the Norwegian explorer, regarding Commander Byrd’s polar flight. ±l© says they can only recoil on himself. Commander Byrd had spent two years preparing for tne expedition, and had established a base on the great ice barrier in December. His staff included geologists, meterologists and other scientists. The main geological party was now proceeding with dog teams to examine mountains 500 miles from the base, which Major Gran dismissed as a fantasy. “Every Polar explorer knowls this vast range was first discovered! by Shackle ton,’ adds the writer “I highly admire Commander Byrd s and Ibis comrades’ achievement. It is a ootossal task. Commander Byrd’s fine wireless tributes to Scott land other' pioneers and Ills wordls before Sooths statue at Dunedin were a most beautiful and touching tribute from one man to the memory of another.’

In the comment that he made Major Gran said that he did not 'doubt that Byrd flew over the PoLe, but said it was curious that 'after 17 years he observed traces of Amundsens and! Scott’s camps, whose huts, being .snow built, would crumble away. Byrd’s report of the Polar mountains seemed to be misitaken. Ranges existed 250 miles from the Pole and possibly further southbetween Scott’s and Amundsen’s routes, but not further south than 88 degrees. He asserted that Byrd’s whdie expedition appeared to be speculations' and sensations. “After the way in which the Americans are acting ‘polar explorer’ is no longer an honourable name,’ he added. “Only money, not scientific qualities nor year-Long preparations is now required to ibecome an explorer. The terrible mountains which Byrd describes are a fantasy. The Hand is on the whole a. plain on which, except for clefts and ravines which must be crossed and: got round, the trip might be accomplished on a motor-cycle.” “HARD TO FOLLOW.” GEOLOGIST’S COMMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 5. Mr H. T. Farrar, geologist in Scott’s first Antarctic expedition, 1901 to 1904, when asked to comment on Major Gran’is cablegram from Copenhagen, said : “With reference to the criticism- of' Commander Byrd’s flight over the South Pole, Major Gran is rather severe. Commander Byrd’s story shows that he and his pilots are to be heartily congratulated on their successful 24-hour flight to the South Pole and back. The' air surveys and air reconnaissances that are being made will facilitate the work of Dr Gould and bis geographical party. Now that Commander Byrd has achieved one of the objects of his expedition he will, no doubt, carry his explorations eastwards and discover territory to which a legitimate claim may be laid. “Major Gran’s remarks about the mountain ranges near the Pole are hard to follow. For instance, he talks of some of these ranges 'being south of the South Pole, which, of course, is absurd. It is difficult to understand what he means by saying: ‘The land, on the whole, is a- plain.’ It is well known that the polar plateau is 9000 feet above the great ice barrier. Moreover, it is buttressed by mountains 12,000 to 15,000 feet high, between which Commander Byrd had to pass on his flight.”