IN THE ANTARCTIC

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 100, 22 January 1935, Page 9

IN THE ANTARCTIC

Byrd Reviews Results of Expedition SUBJECTS STUDIED Dr. Poulter Eulogises Leader’s Heroism By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright. Montreal, January 20. In a specially written article for the Australian Press Association, RearAdmiral Byrd sums up the results of his second expedition virtually on the eve of his departure from Little America. He points out that geographical discoveries were only one of 22 points iu the programme of the expedition. Among the subjects studied had been astronomy, meteorology. physical oceanography. biology of oceanography, vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, mammalogy, physiology, glaciology, stratigraphy. petrography, paleontology, tectonic and economic geology, geophysics, physical geography, cartography. physical and terrestrial magnetism. bacteriology and botany. He deciares that the first expedition was a preparation for the second, and outlines the preparations for the second. He describes his first flight over the ice pack, and the voyage of exploration of the Bear of Oakland, reaching 73.05 S. and 149.30 W. The significance of the result of these operations. together with the subsequent exploration of the eastern sector, was the identification of a vast unknown area as the Pacific Ocean. It extinguished tlie hypothesis of an archipelago reaching into it. Admiral Byrd describes the difficulties of re-establishing the old base camp and the necessity for building a retreat camp on the high barrier when the recession of the ice from the Bay of Whales made it seem possible that even Little America might break out. He declares that the autumnal operations were uneventful, otherwise, except the crash and destruction of the Fokker aeroplane, the operation of appendectomy on Dr. Poulter, and the fire threatening the surgical cache. He details some of his experience in his 41 months’ solitude at the advance base. Additional Knowledge. He points out that the aerial enterprises beginning in November were the investigation of such problems as the mooted trans-continental strait and the extent and character of Marie Byrd Land. He adds: “Like every effort directed toward the solution of unknown matters, the flight did not so much settle familiar problems as raise new ones, though it proved conclusively that the strait was non-existent; that the plateau of Marie Byrd Land rolls unbrokenly from the South Pacific Ocean to Queen Maude Rtfnge; that rhe eastern margin of the Ross shelf ice is defined by the coast of that plateau, and that the structural integrity of Antarctica is verified.” Admiral Byrd then indicates the work of the trail parlies, including Blackburn, Sipple, and others, and concludes: “We can say that the results of the expedition are nearly all we could rightfully hope for. We now have a better conception of the area which in 1930 we lifted above the horizon. This newest of American discoveries is a magnificent sweep of territory running from the Pacific Ocean to the South Pole, encompassing over 200,000 square miles of territory. Superb mountains lift their gleaming peaks through the glacial seas covering it. and the grand plateau marches over all but the tallest mountain tops.” Admiral Byrd finally outlines the scientific work of every member of the expedition. Alone at Advance Base. Dr. Thomas C. Poulter, the physicist of the expedition, commenting on Admiral Byrd’s review, points out that he omitted the part he himself played, and in order that the leader’s experiences may not be entirely lost he supplements the article as follows: “When we reached the Byrd advance base we were shocked by his appearance—he was t emaciated, hollowcheeked, weak and haggard.” Dr. Poulter intimates that Rear-Admiral Byrd faced the gravest danger—the possible loss of his mental balance—but he met the hazard with equanimity. His escape from death through the poison fumes of the oil stove was miraculous. “111. alone and helpless in the middle of the winter night, with three months’ darkness and the killing cold facing him, survival seemed impossible, so lie calmly wrote his instructions for his loaders, ending with the statement: ‘Don't worry. Carry o;i normally—go as far as you can. carrying out our scientific programme, but put the. lives of my men first. Do what you can for Ellsworth.’ ” Dr. Poulter stresses Rear-Admiral Byrd’s unwillingness to call for help, and his maintenance of the meticulous records of a trained observer through his illness. “When we reached the advance base he had fought, it out alone. I know nothing finer than that life literature.”