“RATHER SEVERE”

Southland Times, Issue 20950, 6 December 1929, Page 6

“RATHER SEVERE”

CRITICISM OF COMMANDER BYRD.

A GEOLOGISTS COMMENT.

(Per United Press Association.)

Wellington, December 5.

Mr H. T. Ferrar, a geologist in Captain Scott’s first Antarctic expedition from 1901 to 1904, when asked to comment on Major Gran’s cablegram from Copenhagen said with reference to the criticisms of Commander Byrd's flight over the South Pole:

“Gran is rather severe. Commander Byrd’s story shows that he and his pilots are to be heartily congratulated on their successful 24 hours’ flight to the South Pole and back. The air surveys and the air reconnaissances that are being made will facilitifte the work of Dr Gould and his geographical party. Now that Byrd has achieved one of the objects of his expedition he will no doubt carry his explorations eastwards and discover territory to which a legitimate claim may be laid. Gran’s remarks about, the 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 feet above the great ice barrier. Moreover it is buttressed by mountains 12,000 to 15,000 feet high between which Byrd had to pass on his flight.’ ”