ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 15

ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

COMMANDER BYRD'S PLANS

DEPARTURE ON FRIDAY.

ONE AND A-HALF YEARS ON ICE

[lli TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN, Tuesday.

Trovidecl tlio ico reports from tho whaling ships in tho Ross Sea are favourable, tho barque City of New York, with Commander Byrd and 50 members of tho 'Antarctic expedition aboard, will lnavo Dunodin on Friday direct for tho Bay of Whales. ''Wo shall bo on tlio ice for one and a-half years," said Commander Byrd. When tho organisation of tho expedition was in its early stages Commander I'.vrd expressed tlio hope that if tho conditions on tho ico plateau wero propitious lie would be ablo to do all tho planned living in a few months, a.ul with success achieved return to civilisation again before darkness settled ovet iho Antarctic for the l"iig winter. However, that plan has now been definitely abandoned, and tlio commander lias emphasised once again that tho expedition is not a dash or "stunt'' exploit, but an expedition for scientific exploration.

Tho second supply ship, tlio Eleanor Rolling, will stay in Duuedin until about Christinas, when sho will sail for the {Ninth. Should tho ico barrier of tho Ross Sea provide a good passage tho steamer .should bo back in Dunediu 55 days later. .It is expected to reach tho baso camp ugain on March 1, with tho remainder of the supplies and equipment.

With the C'ily of New York tho Eleanor Boiling will then return to tlio winter quarters at Dunedin, ami leavo again at tho breaking of tho pack ice, in tlio early Milliliter of 1929, with fresh provisions for tho ico party. This announcement was mado to day by Mi'. Kichard G. Brophy, inisitiess manager and second in command of tho expedition.

To-day tho crows of both vessels made a pilgrimage to tho cairn erected on the hills above Port Chalmers in memory of Captain S'ott and his companions.