IN ARCTIC WATERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1925, Page 7

IN ARCTIC WATERS.

EXPLORATION BY ’PLANES.

MACMILLAN EXPEDITION. WIRELESS AND ESKIMOS. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright, Received Aug. 18, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Aug. 18. The naval aviators with the Macmillan Polar expedition are gradually establishing a base west of Ellsmereland, according to a message from Lieut.Commander Byrd. Two ’planes leaving Etah encountered a fog and low clouds 105 miles from the base. One stopped on account of engine trouble. The other Hew over Cannon Fjord at an altitude of 5000 feet into an unexplored region of Grinnelland, and found high unchartered mountains and frozen lakes. Being stopped by the cloud-covered peaks, the ’planes returned to Sawyer Bay, where they established a cache. The 'planes encountered a fifty-mile-an-hour gale over the water.

A Chicago message states that Captain Macmillan announced through the Zenith Radio Corporation that he will broadcast an Eskimo jazz on the night of August 19 on a forty metres wave length. Greenland’s oldest glee club will sing choruses akin to civilised wailing, accompanied by kiloutes, drum-like instruments beaten with walrus boiies. The previous programme was so clear that it was re-broadcasted on 322 metres.

Captain Macmillan stated that the Eskimos take their music very seriously. "We cannot laugh during a performance or they are offended,” he says, “but when it is ended the heartier our laughter the better it pleases them. They seem to take our merriment as applause.”