BYRD EXPEDITION SAILS ON FRIDAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18623, 27 November 1928, Page 6

BYRD EXPEDITION SAILS ON FRIDAY.

ALL UNITS ASSEMBLE AT PORT CHALMERS. Psr Praia Association. DUNEDIN, November 26. For the first time since the first contingent of the B> r rd Antarctic Expedition sailed out of New York Harbour on August 25, ninety days ago, all units of the expedition to-day converged in Otago Harbour. Rather unexpectedly the City of New York arrived off the heads yesterday afternoon under h«;r own sails. Commander Byrd and his aviation personnel arrived this morning by the night express from Christchurch, and the ship Eleanor Bolling, which had gone to Wellington to take aboard the aeroplanes and then go up the East Coast to take the barque in tow, also docked at Dunedin this morning. Happy reunions were made by the eighty-one members of the expedition. They will soon be divided again, as the City of New York, after docking at port for cleaning, wilt come up to Dunedin to-morrow to take aboard the 'planes, stores and dogs, and will leave direct for the Ross Sea on Saturday. Commander Byrd will sail by the barque, and the Eleanor Bolling will leave early in December. With the centralisation of all units, final plans will be expedited. So fai there has not been a hitch in the arrangements, and the commander has already expressed his admiration of the thoroughness of the scheduled plans. The important announcement ha j been made that Mr Richard G. Brophy, the business manager, has been appointed second in command of the expedition. In the expedition there are seventeen men who went to the Arctic with Commander Byrd, while one, Martin Ronnie, was a member of Amundsen’s successful Antarctic expedition. EXPEDITION SHIP ARRIVES. Psr Press Association. DUNEDIN, November 2G. After a fine weather passage of three months from New York, the Byrd expedition ship City of New York arrived in Port Chalmers with Captain Melville in command, and a crew many of whom are on their maiden voyage. _ Captain Melville has visited New Zealand on a number of occasions in sailing vessels. He says that he has never been aboard a better sea boat, and he anticipates no serious difficulties in the ice trip to the Ross Sea, which will take three weeks. Thirty-three men all told are aboard, many being scientists. 11. Harrison is the aerologist, Frank Davies magnetic expert, and G. 11. Black, the head tractor instructor. L. K. Grenlie, radio operator, was with Commander Byrd in the North Pole expedition. Dr Francis Cowan is associated with one of the foremost research institutions in America. Two of the three radio operators were loaned by the United States Nav} r Department. Of the three lads who stowed aAva}*, Robert Lanier is the lucky one. He is a negro orphan, and wants to be the first black fellow to get to the South Pole. The vessel was docked for cleaning and inspection. i A number of the sea-, men; will serve ;in the shore party'tractor operators, dog drivers, ski experts, and ice pilots. THE PLANS. Psr Press Assoei&tiex. DUNEDIN, November 26. Commander Byrd, of the Antarctic Expedition, arrived here tc-day. After a conference with the officers to-night it was decided that a start should be made on Friday. The City of New York will leave with sufficient men, equipment and ’planes to start flying this year. The Eleanor Bolling will follow as soon as possible, and return for the remainder of the men, equipment and supplies. The City of New York will take sufficient of everything to keep twenty-five men fed and employed through the winter, and if the Eleanor Bolling gets through the second time another fifteen men can be added to the winter personnel.