IMPRISONED BY ICE PACK

Taranaki Daily News, 25 January 1930, Page 9

IMPRISONED BY ICE PACK

BYRD SEEKING ASSISTANCE BACKERS SAY LIVES IN PERIL WHALERS COULD CUT PATH (Copyright. —By Russell Owen). Bay of Whales, Jan. 22. Rear-Admiral Byrd has asked the State Department to request the Government of Norway to have the powerful Norwegian whalers help the City of New York and the Eleanor Bolling through the ice pack. The City of New York has reached the edge of the ice pack and has found unprecedented conditions. The Eleanor Bolling will join the barque on January 26., To avoid spending another year at Little America the expedition must leave by February 20. Five whalers are in the Ross Sea and could force their way through. Rear-admiral Byrd returned yesterday from ft flight to Discovery Inlet. He had flown west from here 100 miles and then south 140 miles, through the centre of the 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 a hundred 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 City of New Y’ork, through the station here, discussing matters connected with the problem of getting out this year, which, because of the late season 'and the heavy ice pack, is assuming serious aspects. One message was a telephone communication which New York received from London, and which was sent to Little America from the office of the New York Times and relayed to the plane while over the Barrier, more than 100 miles from Little America. Rear-Admiral Byrd’s backers have requested the emergency assistance of the State Department upon the receipt of word that several members of the expedition are in danger of their lives, due to the difficulty the steamers Eleanor Bolling and City of New York are experiencing in the unprecedented condition of the ice-pack, states a Washington message. The backers have asked that the aid of the Norwegian whalers be solicited to assist the vessels to penetrate the ice and proceed to Little America.