STORY CRITICISED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17125, 4 December 1929, Page 7

STORY CRITICISED

MOUNTAINS A FANTASY INCONSISTENCIES ALLEGED NORWEGIAN ’S COMMENT (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) COPENHAGEN, Dec. 3. Major Trvggve Gran, explorer and airman, and a member of Captain Scott’s expedition in 11)10, and also of the party which found Captain Scott’s body, does not- doubt that. Commander Byrd flew over the .Pole, but says it is curious that, after .17 years he observed traces of Amundsen and Scott’s camps, whose huts, being snow built, would crumble away. Commander Byrd’s report of the polar mountains seemed a mistake. Ranges existed 250 miles from the Pole, possibly .further south between •Scott’s and Amundsen’s routes, but no further south than 88 degrees. Major Gran asserts that Commander Byrd’s whole expedition appears spectacular in sensations.

lie continued: “After the way in which the Americans are acting, polar explorer is no longer an honorable name. Only money, not scientific qualities, nor • vears-long preparations are now required to become an explorer. The terrible mountains which Commander Byrd describes are a fantasy. The laud is on the whole a plain on which, except, for clefts and ravines which must: be crossed or got round, the trip might- be accomplished on a motor cycle.”

Major Gran declares that Norway must be considered in any claim of sovereignty to the South Foie.. A Norwegian first planted the national flag there, and all the territory from Slucck'leton’s southernmost point to the Pole itself was christened Ilaakon VII Land by Amundsen. It was therefore Norwegian. If a .second country claimed portion of Antarctica it should be Britain, in view of Captain Scott’s enterprise.