ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 12

ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

PERILS OF ICE AND AIR. INSPIRATION OF SCOTT. MEMBERS EAGER TO START. [ny TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN. Wednesday. The medical director of the Byrd Antarctic expedition, Dr. Francis D. Coman, said to-day:—"There will bo perils of ice, of sea and of air. There will bo perils of distance, isolation and loneliness, but all threo aro to bo surmounted as Captain Scott surmounted them.

"We boliovo that thero is so little difference between Americans' and British, who aro so closely connected, that wo can go ahead and do what Scott did; in oilier words, wo will follow tho examplo of ScoLt. It was his example that really started this expedition, and his memory and his deeds are getting tho men ready to prove anything." Every man, said Dr. Coman, was "straining at his lashings " to get on the ice. Tho co-operation was wonderful. On tho trip to New Zetland every man had to perform most menial duties, and when tho cook or -somo oilier man asked another member to do something ho did not take tho request offensively u3 an order. Tho men pulled as one.

Among tho members of tho expedition who have spent adventurous lives is Mr. Arthur Creagh, ono of tho cooks. At tho ago of 11 years Mr. Creagh ran away to sea, and now, 34 years later, ho has seen every country in tho world. Beforo the war Mr. Creagh served with the French Foreign Legion in Algiers and Egypt. When tho Great War broke out ho joined tho British Flying Corps. As tho result of wounds received in an air battle over tho Soinme, ho was discharged in 1916. He returned to the United States and enlisted in the artillery, and sailed for Franco. Two days beforo tho armistice ho was wounded. His back was broken, and for 18 months ho was in a piaster cast, but, now ho claims to bo physically (it. For tho first time, tho personnel of the expedition which will go to tho Antarctic was released to-day. The members who will st;iy on the ico during tho winter have not yet been selected. Tho principal members aro as follows:

Richard E. Byrd, commander; Richard G. Brophy, second iu command; Frederick C. Melville, master of tho City of New York, Gustav L. Brown, master of tho Eleanor Boiling; Harry R. King, Joo do Ganohl, Harry Adams and Charles J. Mc-Guinnes-s, mates; Thomas B. Mulroy and Frank McPherson, chief engineers; Malcolm P. Ilanson, radio engineer; Lloyd V. Berkner, Howard F. Mason, Carl 0. Peterson and Lloyd K. Grenlie, radio operators.

Clair D. Alexander, supply officer; William C. Haines, meteorologist; Henry T. Harrison, junior aerologist; Dr. Francis I). Coman, medical director; Dr. Ilaldor D. Barnes, assistant physician; Laurence M. Gould; geographer and geologist; Ashley C. Mclvinley, aerial photographer; John S. O'Brien, surveyor; Russell Owen, newspaper correspondent; Willard van der Veer and Joseph T. Rucker, motion picture photographers; Ralph F. Shropshire, hydrographer. Bernt Balchen, Dean Smith, Harold Juno and Alton N. Parker, air pilots; Benjamin Roth, E. J. Demas, Jerry do Cecea and Kennard F. Bubior, aviation mechanics; Arthur T. Walden, in charge of dog teams; Paul A. Siple, seamanship division (Boy Prout) ; Quin A. Blackburn, topographer; Victor H. Czegka, machinist; Frank T. Davics, physicist and glaciologist.