ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

Evening Star, Issue 21749, 18 June 1934, Page 9

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

THE BYRD EXPEDITION .PLANS FOR SPRING PROGRAMME Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, Juno 16. 'A radio message from Little America says: “From the advance base Admiral Byrd yesterday conferred with Poulter by radio on the plans for the spring exploration programme. A week hence the middle of the winter night will bo reached, and four months later outside activities will start in full swing. Admiral Byrd repeated his instructions to have all the equipment overhauled and in good condition. Poulter advised that the dog team, tractor, aeroplane, and other crews wore continuing to work through the winter. Admiral Byrd said his own physical condition was good, although he had some difficulty in properly ventilating the shack The few pounds in weight he lost some time ago he has regained. ‘ Either my cooking is getting better or I am holding my own in spite of it,’ ” he remarked.

THE RYMILL EXPEDITION WIRELESS STATION TO BE ERECTED. LONDON, June If. (Received June 18, at 11 a.m.) Accompanying the Rymill expedition will be Lieutenant Kcikejohn, on loan by the Royal Corps Signals, who will establish a wireless station as near as possible to the South Pole. He will remain there three years, telling the world how the explorers are faring.

Mr Ilyin ill is leading , a British Antarctic expedition, which will leave England in September to explore the coast between Luitpold and Charcot with a view to determining whether the Antarctic is oue_ or two continents. Sir Hubert Wilkins is the only man who has seen this coast. He passed it during his flight from Deception Island in 1929. The expedition is purchasing a 120ton vessel and a' small aeroplane. The personnel will probably be fourteen. Seven men have already been selected, including five members of the Watkins Arctic air route expedition. The British Government is contributing to the expenses and the Royal Geographical Society is providing £I,OOO. The Rymill expedition will remain in Antarctica for thirty-two months, exploring 1,000 miles of the coastline east and west of the line of Sir Hubert Wilkins’s flight over Hearstland. It will carry out dredging and weather observations. The vessel will be sailed to the Antarctic. Discovery 11. will take an aeroplane to Deception Island where it will be placed on floats and flown over the Bransfield Straits to the mainland.