BYRD FLIES EASTWARD

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 138, 7 December 1929, Page 9

BYRD FLIES EASTWARD

ANTARCTIC MYSTERIES

NEW

MOUNTAINS SEEN

United Press Association—By Electric Tclecraph—Copyright. ' (By Russell Owen—Special to the Press Association.) BAY OF WHALES, sth December. Commander Byrd started the first eastern exploration flight this season, taking off at 10.30 o'clock this morning with Captain Alton 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 indicating that somewhere in that direction to tho north is land. Whether it is a series of small islands or an extension of the coast-line has never been learned. PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS. There have been many attempts to penetrate the ice that way. Scott and Shaekleton both tried,'and were turned back by the ice- closing about them. Byrd tried threo times last year to get north with the City of New York, turning back only when to go on might have meant imprisonment and possible loss of tho ship. Twice last year he tried to fly past what, is known of King Edward VII. Land, but was headed off by snow and clouds. It has been one of the impenetrable and interesting lands of the Antarctic continent, as whoever solves the mystery of what keeps that mass of ice held to the north will probably be able to delineate a new coast-line. PROGRESS BULLETINS. The following bulletins have been received from Byrd:— "Noon.—Excellent visibility; can see Rockefeller Mountains to the south clearly; also a high mountain ahead just a little to the. right of Scott's Nunata. We are about twenty miles west of Scott's Nunatak. Air rough motors fine. "One o'clock.—Many mountain peaks past Scott's Nunatak. Over un-1 explored area; new mountains, and mapping unknown coast-line. Now two miles westward of coast-line over water, so M'Kinley can map. Have made more than a hundred miles per hour. All well. "One thirty.—We have discovered a great mountain range in Marie Byrd Land running generally in a north and south direction. We hope this is worth while for science, for we are flying in rough weather and taking chances to map it."