ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 166, 17 July 1939, Page 7

ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

RACE AGAINST FOREIGN POWERS THREE SHIPS TO LEAVE DEPARTURE BEFORE OCTOBER Received July 16, 5.5 p.m. NEW YORK. July 14. Rear-Admiral Byrd to-day referred to his forthcoming Antarctic expedition as a “race to prevent, the invasion of the Antarctic by foreign Powers.” He declined to elaborate this comment, but it is understood that he was referring chiefly to a report that Germany was sending an I aircraft-carrier this summer to map I the region between Little America I and Palmer Land. Rear-Admiral Byrd revealed that his bases will be at Little America and Palmnr T.and with n <mnll hncn hnlf-

Palmer Land, with a small base halfway between. 22 men with a plane being installed at each base. The expedition, which is leaving Boston before October 1, and returning in May, 1941, will comprise three ships, 160 men, 200 dogs, three aeroplanes, two army tanks and a snow cruiser. The personnel will consist mainly of experts from the military services and various Government departments. The New York Times, in an editorial, points out that if Rear-Admiral Byrd claims all the land cast of the 180th. meridian as planned, he will enclose two-fifths of the Britishclaimed Ross Sea dependency. It adds that, as nothing valuable has yet been discovered in this area, Britain is unlikely to raise serious objections.