RATION CACHES ESTABLISHED

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1934, Page 7

RATION CACHES ESTABLISHED

ACTIVITIES OF LITTLE AMERICA. MAIN SOUTHERN PARTY RETURNS. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7 p.m. Montreal, April 11. “The main southern party returned here on March 31 from Southing 160 nautical miles across the rolling ice barrier,” Little America reports. “The party has been out a month. The journey was accomplished in the traditional manner behind sleds drawn by Eskimo huskies. “Captain Taylor says the average temperature was 20 degrees below zero and the coldest recorded 61 degrees below. Several dogs died of exhaustion. Three nine-dog teams carried a total of 59821 b of supplies. Caches of rations and so on were made every 25 miles in tall snow beacons connected by flag signs for Rear-Admiral R. E. Byrd’s next spring run to the Queen Maude Range. The fourth member of the expedition was obliged to drop out owing to a leg injury and return with the tractor party which carried supplies to the advance base.

“Reviewing the co-operation of dogs and tractors Captain Taylor says that although tractors and machines are faster and carry heavier loads the dog teams are often able to go where the machines cannot, and can pass over spots where the tractors break through crevasses.”