BYRD TO PROBE MYSTERY OF ICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18938, 7 December 1929, Page 1

BYRD TO PROBE MYSTERY OF ICE.

MAKES SECOND ATTEMPT TO FLY PAST KING EDWARD Vn LAND. BY RUSSELL. OWEN. Copyrighted, 1928, by the -New York Times’* Company and "St Louis Post-Dispatch." All Rights for Publication Reserved Throughout the World. Wireless to "New York Times." BAY OF WHALES. December 5. Commander R. E. Byrd started his first eastern exploration flight this season, taking off at 10.30 this morning, with Captain Parker as pilot, in the direction of King Edward VII. Land, which holds the key to one of the Antarctic’s mysteries. It has long been a source of speculation what holds ice there as it curves to the north. Its formation indicates that somewhere in that direction to the north is land. Whether it is a series of small islands or an extension of the coastline has never been learned. There have been many attempts to penetrate the ice that way. Scott and Shackleton tried and were turned back by the ice closing in about them, and t Byrd tried three times last year to get north with the City of New York, turning back only when to go on might have meant imprisonment in the ice and possible loss of the ship. Twice last year he tried to fly past what is I known as King Edward VII Land, but was headed off by snow and clouds. It has been one of the most impenetrable and interesting of land continents, as whoever solves the mystery of what keeps the mass of ice held to the north will probably be able to de lineate the new coastline. The following bulletins have been received from Byrd:—

Noon: Excellent visibility. Can see Rockefeller Mountains to the south clearly, also high mountain ahead, just a little to the right of Scott’s Nunatak. We are about twenty miles west of

Scott’s Nunatak. The air is rough. The motors are doing fine. 1 p.m.: Many mountain peaks past Scott’s Nunatak. Over unexplored area and new mountains. Am mapping unknown coastline, now two miles westward of coastline over the water, so that M’Kinley can map. Have made more than 100 miles an hour. All well. 1.30 p.m.: We have discovered * great mountain range in Marie Byrd Land, running generally in the north and south direction. We hope that this is worth while for science, for we are flying in rough weather and taking chances t 6 map it.