POLAR RANGES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17126, 5 December 1929, Page 5

POLAR RANGES

BYRD’S VIEW SUPPORTED REPLY TO CONTROVERSY LONDON, Dec. 4. Air. Herbert George Pouting, F.R.G.S., in a letter to the Daily Herald, speaking for all Captain Scott’s comrades, denounces the whole tone and spirit of the remarks of (Major Gran. He says they can only recoil on himself. Commander Byrd, he says, spent two years preparing the expedition, and established a base on the Great Ice Barrier in December. His staff includes geologists, meteorologists, and other scientists. The main geological party is now proceeding with dog teams to examine the mountains 500 miles from the base, which Major Gran dismisses as a “fantasy,” Every polar explorer knows this vast range was first discovered, by Shack let on. “I highly admire the achievement of Conn under Byrd and his comrades,” sav-s Mr. Pouting. “It is a colossal task. Commander Byrd’a fine wireless tributes to Captain Scott and other pioneers, and his words before Captain- Scott’s statue at Christchurch were a most beautiful and ‘touching tribute from one man to the memory of another.” GEOLOGIST’S VIEWS CRITICISM ABSURD BYRD TO BE CONGRATULATED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Mr. H. T. Ferrar, geologist in Stott’s first Antarctic expedition, 1901 to 1904, when asked to comment on Major Gran’s cablegram from Copenhagen, said: "With reference to the criticism of Commander Byrd’s flight over- the South Pole, Major Gran is rather severe. Commander Byrd’s story shows that he and his pilots are to be heartily congratulated on their successful 24 hours’ (light to the South Pule and back. The air surveys and air reconnaisances that are being made will facilitate the w r ork of Gould and his geographical party. Now ihat Commander Byrd has achieved one of the objects oi his expedition ho will no doubt carry his explorations eastwards, and discover territory to which legitimate claim may bo laid. “Major Gran’s remarks about mountain ranges near the Pole are hard to follow. For instance, he talks of some of these ranges being south of the South Pole, which, of course, is absurd. It is difficult to understand what he means by saying ‘the land on the whole is a plain.’ It is well known that the Polar plateau is 9000 ft. above the Great Ice Barrier. Moreover, it is buttressed by mountains 12,000 ft. to 15,000 ft. high, between which Commander Byrd had to pass on his flight.”