POLAR EXPLORATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19460, 27 December 1934, Page 7

POLAR EXPLORATION.

A SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT. THE ELLSWORTH EXPEDITION. (By Tclegrapu.—press Association.) DUNEDIN, Wednesday. Private advice received in Dunedin to-night indicated that a flight across the Antarctic had been successfully accomplished by the American explorers Mr Lincoln Ellsworth and Mr Bernt Balchen. The flight, as originally planned, was from Deception Island to the (Bay of Whales, tuid,' with a deviation in the course, it was estimated that 'the total distance would be some 2700 miles. The aeroplane known as the Polar Star, is a very fast machine, with a cruising range of upwards of 3000 miles. The Byrd Antarctic Expeditions supply ship, Bear of Oakland, is scheduled to sail for Little America shortly after 9 a.m. to-morrow.

VESSEL’S DEPARTURE DELAYED. AWAITING TRACTOR PARTS. (liy Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Thursday. Having received ft wireless from Rear-Admiral Byrd to await tractor parts, which are due by the Mariposa at Auckland on December 29, the Bear of Oakland will now not sail till December 31. or January 1. I A REPORT DISCREDITED. STORY NOT SUBSTANTIATED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Thursday. The report that Mr Lincoln Ellsworth and Mr Bertn Balchen have made a trans-Antarctic flight is generally discredited. Inquiries made from a reliable source produce not the slightest substantiation. , , Mr Ellsworth dislikes publicity, but in the proudest moment of his adventurous life not even this reserved American could have maintained silence, while if he had landed, at RearAdmiral Byrd’s base the arrival could not have been keptiqulet.

such is the view expressed here,