FLIGHT TO THE POLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19731, 2 September 1927, Page 8

FLIGHT TO THE POLE.

COMING ANTARCTIC TRIP. EXPEDITION OF SCIENTISTS. // COMMANDER BYRD'S PLANS. PROVISIONS FOR SIX MONTHS. / _____ [from our own cob respondent.] / NEW YORK, Aug. 10. "This is primarily a scientific expedition, and not a cash to the Pole," Commander Richard E. Byrd said at his Boston home, in outlining the plans and hopes for the expedition, he will shortly lead to the South Polar regions. "The Pole is the least of all our plans. The expedition is requiring much thought, planning and equipping. I am very keen to maka the flight to the Pole—that is the boy in us—but we must wait a,nd plan scientific-ally." The descriptions of the Antarctic regions, as left by others, could not be relied upon for aviation purposes, Commander Byrd pointed out —not that they were not accurate, but that those who had been there had all seen things differently, and each had his own opinions of the obstacles to be surmounted. Thirty in the Party. The date of sailing has not yet been fixed, nor have the scientists •who will accompany the expedition been chosen. Commander Byrd estimates that there will be thirty in the party, exclusive of the crew of the mother ship, if one is taken. There will be two monoplanes, one with a single motor, similar to that which carried Chamberlairf to Germany from New York; another would have three motors, similar to the America, which took Commander Byrd across the Atlantic. Discovery Harbour will probably be the first contact with Antarctic waters. The harbour is in the ice barrier, and extends inland for five to ten miles. "After erecting portable houses and establishing our primary base on the shores of the inlet, we shall work toward the Pole in aeroplane jumps," said Commander Byrd. "We plan to cache storefi of food estimated to be sufficient for six months, every 100 miles, up to 500 miles inland. "These little camps will be laid down by aeroplanes. That is, we will load the plane with six months' provisions and hop off for a point 100 miles from the base, where we will leive the supplies. Then, returning to the base, we will take on another similar load, and jump 200 miles to establish another camp, and so on until we have five of them. There is the ice barrier to be crossed, and a mountain range, during the course of exploration, which I believe runs to a height of 15,000 ft.

" I certainly do not expect to have the luck we had in the Arctic, as regards the "weather," Commander Byrd observed. ■"The weather in the South Polar region is .very .bad. It is the home of high winds and frigid storms that more often than not last for days and make movement impossible. Amundsen suffered from the cold, and Scott lost his life in its grip. Our planes will be ready for the climate. We shall drain off all the oil after each flight, and shall heat it before taking off again, similar to the motors. For this we shall 'use a fireproof bag that fits over them and is connected with a pres- / sure gasoline stove." Several Science Experts. The scientists .will include a biologist, an ornithologist, a geologist, an icthyologist, a meteorologist, a magnetic? expert, a geographer, ard perhaps others, who will represent specialised "branches of science. Mr. Arthur Walden, a well-known New Hampshire sled dog driver, will accom--pany the expedition, in charge of the dog teams. It is possible that Mr. Leonard Seppala, the Alaska driver, may also accompany the party. . There will be three other drivers, to take charge of 60 dogs. The question of tractors, for use in the expedition, i:; being considered. Mr. Walden h?.s about forty dogs on his farms, sons and daughters of the famous Chinook, a half-breed huskie. Before and during the gold rush days Mr. Walden operated with dogs in Alaska, and had many adventures on the Yukon and on Behring Sea ice. He worked the trail from Circle City to Dawson when the country was wild, and was in Alaska before tha:t territory had any law except the miners' meetings.