Byrd’s Race To Prevent Foreign Invasion Of Antarctica

Northern Advocate, 17 July 1939, Page 5

Byrd’s Race To Prevent Foreign Invasion Of Antarctica

(Received 1.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 14. Admiral Byrd today referred to the Antarctic expedition as “a race to prevent the invasion of tlje Antarctic by foreign Powers.” He declined to elaborate, but it is understood ho was referring chiefly to the report that Germany i$ sending an aircraft carrier this summer to map the region between Little America and Palmer Land. The explorer revealed that his bases would be Little America and Palmer Land, with a small base half-way between. Twenty-two men with a plane would be installed at each base. The expedition will leave Boston before October 1, returning in May, 1941. It will comprise three ships, 160 men, 200 dogs, three aeroplanes, two army tanks and a snow cruiser.' The personnel will number 24, with six, mainly exports, from the military services and various Government departments. The “New York Times” editorially points out that if Admiral Byrd claims all the land east of 180th meridian, as he plans, he will enclose two-fifths of the British-claimed Ross Sea Dependency, and adds that as nothing valuable has yet been discovered, in this area, Britain is unlikely to raise serious objections.