AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Evening Star, Issue 20054, 20 December 1928, Page 18

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

BYRD EXPEDITION HAD FORTNIGHT IN HAND [Special io thb ‘Stab.’] CHBISTCHUIieU, December 19. Very pleased with tho progress of the expedition, so far, and enthusiastic about tho prospects of the City of New York reaching- the Bay of Whales about a fortnight sooner than the explorers had expected, is Mr - Richard Brophy, second in command and business manager of tho Byrd Antarctic Expedition, who is in Christchurch to-day. Mr Brophy has not so far left New Zealand for tho south, but it is probable that ho will go with the Eleanor Boling when sho makes her next trip, probably within a fortnight’s time. “Ahead of scheduler 1 1 should say we are,” said Mr Brophy to a ‘Sun’ reporter. “ We’re so far ahead that if the City of New York gets- anything like decent breaks in.tho weather and ico conditions. sho should get to the Bay of Whales by New Year’s Day. It was a fortnight later than that that Amundsen ■ got there. Tho Eleanor Boling, which took the City of New York to the edge of the ico, is due back in Dunedin to-morrow. Sho will have to wait for good ice conditions, for, being a steel ship, we can’t push her through tho ico at the rate wo can tho wooden City of New York, li tho ico breaks up, as wo hope it will, tho Boling will leave Dunedin on the way to tho Bay of Whales somewhere between January 1 and 5. She will take with her the Ford airplane, the Bollanca, and tho little Scout. The City of Now York is taking the Fairchild Cabin monoplane with her now. The Boling will also lake down a big Clclrac tractor, fitted with a caterpillar tread, and a Ford 4 snowmobile.’ That is just an ordinary Ford car fitted with skis on tho front wheels and a caterpillar tread on tho back. When tho Boling makes her second trip she will take a Baby Austin car, fitted with skis in front and chains on the back wheels. It that gets into a drift w can lift it out. “When the Eleanor Boling _ gc. down in January wo hope that it will only take her about a month to go from Dunedin to the Bay of Whales, unload tho gear, and come back. The second trip should start about tho beginning ot February, and the ship should be back in Dunedin to winter by about March 10. The City of New York will probably leave tbo Bay of Whales for New Zealand about February 15. ’ As soon as sho gets down there, which, ns I said, it is hoped will be within a fortnight from now, work will bo begun on the main base and tbo winter quarters of the people who will slay on tho ico. They wilt also go ahead laying down bases on the way to the Bole with dog learns. When tho dog.teams set out to do this, they will take with them a radio sot. Each base will be radio equipped, and each of the ships and tho - main base are equipped with a radio direction finder. 'The ono at the base is for use with their airplanes on their expeditions.” So, if Mr Brophy’s hopes are fulfilled, and the weather down among tho ico keeps good. Commander Byrd and his men should bo busy at tho work of unloading their stores, erecting their portable bouse, and generally getting ready for the big event just about the time flint New Zealand is entering upon 1929.