BYRD'S SHIP HELD UP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20472, 25 January 1930, Page 11

BYRD'S SHIP HELD UP.

STOPPED BY ICE PACK.

HELP. OF WHALERS SOUGHT.

REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. [By Mr. Russell Oven. Copyrighted 1928 by the New York Times Company and; the St. Louis Post Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to the New York Times.] BAY OF WSALES. Jan. 22. Rear-Admiral Byrd has asked the State Department to request the Norwegian Government to allow their powerful whalers to help the City of New York and the Eleanor Boiling through the icepack. The City of New York has reached the edge of the ice-pack and finds unprecedented conditions. The "Eleanor' Boiling will join her on January- 26,

To avoid spending another year in Little America the expedition must leave by February 20. Five whalers are in the Ross Sea and could force a way through. Rear-Admiral Byrd returned yesterday from a flight to Discovery Inlet, flying west from here for 100 miles, then south for 140 miles, through the centre of the Great Barrier in search for signs of land which would protect that long arm of the sea and explain its formation. The only possible indication of land was in the region of pressure about 100 miles south of the inlet. An area of 15,000 square miles of new territory was observed during the flight.

While in the. air .Rear-Admiral Byrd was in touch with the steamer City of New York through the station hero.

He discussed matters connected with the problem of getting out this year, which, because of the late season and heavy pack, is assuming a. serioiis aspect. One message was a telephone communication which New York had received from London and which was sent to Little America from the office of the New York Times and relayed to the aeroplane while over the Barrier more than- 100 miles from Little America. • •

FEELING IN NEW YOBK.

DANGER TO LIFE FEARED.

NORWEGIAN AID SUGGESTED.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23

Rear-Admiral Byrd's backers requested the prompt assistance of the State Department upon receipt of -word that several members of the expedition were in danger of losing their lives, owing to the, difficulty the steamers Eleanor Boiling and City of New York are experiencing in the unprecedented conditions of the ice-pack. The backers have asked that the aid of the Norwegian whalers be solicited to assist Byrd's vessels to penetrate the ico and proceed to Little America. There was no mention of danger to life in the direct radio message received this morning from the Bay of Whales.