GEAR LEFT BEHIND

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 2 March 1935, Page 7

GEAR LEFT BEHIND

BASE AT LITTLE AMERICA HOUSES, TRACTORS AND POOD o READY FOR NEW VISITORS.

An Antarctic explorer who visits Little America in the near future should not have to worry much about constructing a camp, for Rear-Admiral Byrd has left behind Jiim excellent accommodation for a large expedition, including food, and supplies of gasoline. In an interview at Christchurch Captain. A. Tnnes-Tavlor, one of the Canadian members of Byrd's second expedition, said that it would be possible tic occupy the base camp again practically without preparation. Captain Tnnes-Tavlor, who held an l important position with the expedition as officer in charge of all surface operations—including sledging and tractor transport—said that the expedition had even left three of its tractors down on the ice. These wiii probably remain in good working condition for year. Nor is it likely that a future visitor to Little America would have any trouble in finding the base, for the expedition’s high wireless masts still stand as a strange landmark in a. world of ice. They stood the storms and stresses of the years which passed between the departure of , the first Byrd Expedition and the arrival of the second, and ore likely to continue a. successful battle against- the elements for many years more.

“We were certainly worried a good deal about Admiral Byrd while ]ie spent his lonely months in the advance outpost,” said Captain .Tnnes-Tavlor, who wont out with the advance party which established depots along the route to the advance base and who helped to construct Byrd’s house there.

Captain Innos-Taylor was with Byrd’s first expedition to the Antarctic and was in charge of the relief dogs which on the way out to Little America spent some time in the snow at Mount Cook. He said that one of the most remarkable changes noticed at- Little America on his return was that going into the Ross Sea there was not- nearly the amount of ice either this year or last year, that there was fn 1928-29 or 1929-30. It seemed that the ice conditions in the Ross Sea varied .increasing and lessening in cycles. No doubt within the next few years there would he another change and another massing of tho ice.

About his own plans for the future, Captain Innes-Ta-ylor -is not sure. Since his return hv the Jacob Ruppert he has met many friends made during his previous visits to New Zealand. a country which he likes very much. He will leave for the North Island this evening, to return later to Dunedin. On his return to America ho will go to New York, Canada, and then to England to visit his people there.