The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1929. THE FAR SOUTH.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1929. THE FAR SOUTH.

Dksimth the adverse- comment from Major (Iran, of Norway, the lengthy messages which have been published in respect to Commander Byrd’s (light over the South Pole, have been arresting as indicative once again of the triumph of man over almost superhuman odds. The adventure upon which be embarked was one attended with considerable hazard, owing to the conditions that were likely to lie encountered, and the circumstantial story of the lligl.it seems to indicate that the skill and nerve of Commander Bvrd and his companions wore severely tested and that they were fortunate to emerge safely from the ordeal which the task of navigation presented. The time occupied in the flight to the Pole and the return journey to the base at the Antarctic was only nineteen hours. Xofi.’ng more strikingly emphasises than this does, comments the Otago limes, the possibilities of rapid transport that have been introduced by the use of the aeroplane. It is natural to reflect upon Lho contrast between the Jong, weary marches of Scott

and Amundsen to the South Pole, and the fearful hardship endured week after week by land parties in those icebound, treacherous,, and blizzard-swept solitudes, and the swift aerial dash such 3 as that which has enabled Commander Byrd to reach his goal, hover over it, and return in less than twenty-four hours. But the achievements compreI bencled in such'‘differing circumstances are not, of course, at all comparable in their character. In view of the remarkable progress that has been maue in flying there was no reason to , ] doubt the possibility, under favourable climatic conditions, of reaching the South Pole by aeroplane. Commander Byrd has put the matter to test for tne first time, . and is to he heartily congratulated upon his successful achievement, as a. result of which he enjoys the signal and unique distinction of having. accomplished a flight, first to the North Pole and later to the South Pole. In New Zealand his brilliant performance must naturally excite a special interest, SBice it was from Dunedin that he started on his j journey to the Antarctic, and since that port has served as a base for the vessels of his expedition. The alteration in the aspect of Polar exploration lots not been confined to the use that is now being made of the I aeroplane. Former Antarctic expeditions sailed for their frozen destination, established their camps, sent away their ships, and were not only cut off for long periods of time from civilisation, but also were left without any form of communication with civili- , sation. . The silence and the suspense that attended, their doings and for- . tunes were resolved only when the exploration ship brought back tidings of , them or the expedition themselves returned. That is all a thing of the past. The Bvrd Expedition has been singular among all those that have loft for the South Polar regions in the respect that the triumphs of science have enabled it to keep in constant touch not only with New 'Zealand hut also with the United States so that day by day a running story, wirelessly supplied from the ice barrier, has been published as an almost ordinary part of the contents of countless newspapers. With the strong light of publicity thus thrown upon the Antarctic some of the romance that has accompanied exploration in those regions must appear to have departed. Recent cable messages tend to conlinn the impression that the operations of Commander Byrd’s expedition are likely to raise questions of international concern relative to the Claims of priority of territorial rights in Antarctica. It may he conjectured that the delimitation of national spheres in tne frozen wastes of the south, where the features of the landscape are continuously being changed, will he a matter that will tax the highest skill of the experts.