BYRD DISCOVERS NEW TERRITORY FOR U.S.A.

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6844, 23 February 1929, Page 10

BYRD DISCOVERS NEW TERRITORY FOR U.S.A.

Beyond Ross Dependency PLANES FLY 140 MILES FROM BAY OF WHALES • —Received Friday, 7 p.m. BAY OF WHALES, Feb. 19. New ierritory is claimed for the United States by Commander Byrd as the resuit of the latest flights, particularly those undertaken yesterday. Two new mountain ridges were discovered. The Rockefeller Range is within the territory claimed by the British and known as the Ross Dependency. But other and larger ranges and peaks lowering 8000 to 10,000 ft. are apparently outside the limit of the British claims at the border of new land of limitless area, the portion lying between the Ross Sea and Graham Land. Other peaks on the Rockefellers have been seen, and everything indicates that Byrd in his flights next season will be able to chart a land greater in extent than the known territory of the Ross Dependency, and possibly equally majestic in character.

To the East of Ross Sea. None of this territory eastward has fever been seen . by another explorer. Scott, who discovered King Edward Land, and the Scott Nunataks, was unnble to reach the shore beyond. Now Slot only have 40,000 square miles of the Antarctic been explored owing to the amazing visibility gained by the aeroplane, but the Rockefeller Range Tas been mapped by "nreocamera and a feketch of the entire sector has been tnado by Captain Ashley McKinley. The great new land, which has so aroused the enthusiasm of the members iof the expedition, lias been named Maris Byrd Land. Two now peaks have been sighted due east of the Rockefeller Range, which runs north-east and south-west, beginning at n point fifty tniles south of: the Scott Nanutaks, and Byrd,, who. penetrated a long distance south- yesterday, saw what he believed to bo high land at almost the exact point where Amundsen on his trip to -the Polo reported the appearance of 'land.. This was about half way between the: Bay-of-'Whales and the Axel Heiberg Glacier. Prospect Tor Next Year.

ir.to heavy clouds, which hovered over the coast and hung across the route. They were heavy snow clouds and hung low. Balchen did not think it wise to try to fly under them. Just before reaching HaL Flood Bay, the Commander directed Balchen to turn to the south-east. They flew on this course until they had passed abo.ut fifteen miles south of the Rockefeller Range. Tho ’planes were in constant communication with the base and the ship by radio and also with the whalers in the Ross Sea. Some time ago Commander Byrd had told Captain Arthur Nielsen, of the whaler C. A. Larsen, which towed him through the ice pack, that he would name a mountain after him, and when abreast of the Rockefeller Range ha sent word to the whaling captain. “Have just passed Mount Nielsen.’’

Byrd's Map. , He kept on some distanco to the south-east. Byrd’s map, when he returned, was covered with notations of positions, courses, and hours of observation. The navigation in itself, with the use of the sun compass and the magnetic compasses, -was a good piece of work, because of the many changes in the course. Past the Rockefeller Range, as they swung southward, the snow surface of the Barrier was at least a thousand feet above sea level, and both Balchen and Byrd feel certain that under it was land.

So it can bo seen. that in almost fevery direction to the east and southeast and south from .our .base land has been sighted, with a probability that mountain ranges and high land extend as far as the cruising radius of the ’planes. The results 6c far offer a very hopeful prospepet for next year’s work. Byrd believes that this season is too late for exploration flights now,- and he will confine aviation work to flights for recording by aerbmapping of interesting territory, near the base, and as much as possible of the region penetrated on the past trips of exploration. To Captain McKinley, Dean Smith, the pilot, and Lloyd Berk-nerj the radio operator, on the mapping flight yesterday Byrd has given the honour of discovering the now range to tho cast, although-he himself - first sighted its highest peak.

Glistening White Plain. The visibility at this distance from the coast was perfect, tho snow' surface stretched in a glistening white plain at least 100 miles on each side, only slight differences in colour showing whero the snow was soft or packed by the wind to a smooth, hard crust. Waves of sastrugi undulations caused by the streaky winds ran over it in places, and sometimes there would be a low, but long mound, but for the most part tho surface looked as though there had been no movement there for ages. Again Byrd turned south and kept in this direction until be had penetrated 100 miles beyond his fur-, tbest southeru limit on previous flights.

The Unexpepcted. Nothing could show more perfectly the dramatic character of tho unexpected in the Antarctic . exploration than yesterday’s work. Discoveries leap upon tho aerial adventurer down here in the course of a few hours. The first flight of tho day was planned as & trip to the north of King Edward Lnnd, and an attempt to push further in the direction where Byrd- was turned back by a snowstorm on his first flight. He was convinced, as was Scott, that land existed as the only explanation of an impenetrable icefield which lies to the' north of us on the eastern side of the r ßoss Sea. He bad gone to the base the night in the hope of getting off, but the Weather became overcast. Beautiful Phenomena.

The Twin Peaks. It was on this course that he saw the twin peaks far to the east and a high mountain later. It was more plainly seen by the M'Kinlcy party. When the flyers turned again for home they had penetrated so far to the south that another mountain range could be seen plainly _ far from the dark streak on the horizon. This was undoubtedly the land faintly seen •by Amundsen to the east of his Polar route. Tho Commander passed many rolling hills of snow- on his w-ay back to the base, hills indicating land and few pressure ridges. On this one leg of the flight, which was 140 miles from the Bay of Whales, he was able to see ac least- 100 miles to tho south, covering an area of 1400 square miles of hitherto unknown territory.

Tho increasing cold filled the air with particles of ice, which caused somo beautiful phenomena as tho sun swung down low in the west. Just opposite the inlet on which the base js situated the light from it was so diffused that it became a golden flame ■which filled the sky and from it fell a. cataract of gold that splashed on the surface of the bay like an explosion of light. On each side of the" sun were arcs like a rainbow, and in the Colour of them just' beyow the line of tho sun were mock suns. Over the sun was the lower arc of another rainbow.

Past Trip Home. Both ’planes landed smoothly at the base after a flight of four hours and fifteen minutes, the last part of the trip being made with a strong tail wind, enabling them to do 140 miles in tLe last hour. The ’planes covered a total of four hundred miles. Two hours later M’Kinley left upon another survey nort'h-east along the coast, and all the time the City of New York -kept in touch with the flyers, knowing everything was going well and mapping their course so accurately that they could easily bo rescued if forced down. M'Kinley’s final 'flight lasted five hours and forty minutes.

Perfect For Plying. But the conditions which caused this entrancing effect were, such as made fljung out of the question. The next morning, however, the weather was perfect over the Barrier, and as soon as the engines were warmed and heated oil poured into them, they were started and were soon. purring .rhythmically. Two ’planes went on this flight. hßyrd, Bernt Balchen, and Lloyd Berkncr went in the Virginia, -while Cap tain Allen Parker flew the Stars and Stripes. It was cold, 14 degrees below aero, during the hours the sun was low, and the crews were warmly dressed in furs. Tho thermometer registered one to two degrees below during the flight, but it was comfortable in the eabin and cockpits. Both ’planes got off easily with heavy loads, and after circling over the camp turned northeast towards the Nunataks, the V irginia leading and Parker flying just above and to one side. Above the Clouds. After an hour’s flight the ’planes ran

MAWSON TO SAIL IN SCOTT’S DISCOVERY. TO LEAVE HOBART NEXT SUMMER, British Official Wireless. RUGBY, Feb. 21. The famous ship Discovery has been placed at tho disposal of Sir Douglas Mawson by the British government for the Antarctic expedition, which he is to lead. This three-master auxiliary barque was used by Scott for his first Antarctic expedition. The Mawson expedition, which the Australian Commonw-ealth government is equipping, and which a number of British scientists have been invited to

join, will leave Hobart, Tasmania, at the beginning of the next Australian summer. Sir Douglas Mawson arrived in London from Australia ten days ago in the hope of acquiring the Discovery.

Captain J. K. Davis to be Master of Discovery APPEAL FOR FUNDS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Friday, 9.10 p.m. CANBERRA, Feb. 23. It is authoritatively stated that Captain J. K. Davis, Commonwealth Director of Navigation, has been appointed to the command of Discovery in the Mawson Antarctic expedition. The Federal government is immediately appealing to scientific and semi-scientific public bodies to contribute towards the cost of the venture.

The New Zealand Society of Accountants at its half-yearly council meeting at Wellington decided that the annual meeting be held in Dunedin in August of this year. SIMPLE!—ISN’T IT? Take a little “Ginger Nip” in a tumbler and fill up with water. Simple isn’t it, but there’s never been a drink to equal it. Just the right “kick”—just the right punch and ever so quenching. A sixpenny bottle of Ginger Nip makes a gallon of this popular beverage. All grocers sell it. Save the wrappers.