BYRD’S SUCCESS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1926, Page 3

BYRD’S SUCCESS

BYDR’S SUCCESS AT THE POLE. AIRMAN'S CLAIM. OSLO, May !h Byrd has returned after a flight lasting 154 hours He states that ho reached the North Pole. [“Sydney Sun” Cables.] (Received this day at 8 a.m.i LONDON, May 10. Later reports state Byrd, with the Stars and Stripvs flying at the prow, thrice encircled the Pole before returning. A heavy Polar snowfall terribly impeded the wings. Amundsen, who was asleep when his rival took off, was the first to welcome him when be returned. .

A POLE CHART. [“Sydney Sun ” Cables.] (Received this day at 9.0 a.m.i NEW YORK, May 10. The “Times” explains that Byrd carried a chart giving the position of ti e sun in relation to the Pole at any given instant, enabling him to tell when flying over the Pole. This method of observation would keep the margin of error within twenty miles. He also carried ail artificial horizon or bubble sextant. BYRD’S JOURNEY. (Received this day at 11.0 a.in.) LONDON, May 10. England’s international catastrophe is overshadowed by the thrilling story of Byrd’s polar flight and his return to King’s Bay post after fifteen hours. The flight created great excitement in Oslo. He declares he circled the North Pole thrice, dropping the American flag and also a box containing documents, which will prove his claim. Some Arctic experts arc sceptical, others, including Larsen, give credence to the claim, ft is admitted that Byrd could have easily flown the distance and back within the time, but it is generally doubted whether the observations -taken from, an aeroplane travelling at ninety-seven miles an hour could he sufficiently accurate to be able to claim that he actually reached the Pole. Nevertheless, it is admitted that Byrd seized the first opportunity of doing something definite. He announced there was no land at the Pole, but a large strip of water such as was outlined by Amundsen.

STEF ANSON’S VIEWS. NEW YORK. May 10. The explorer Stefanson points out that the outfit’of Byrd and his companion Bennett, was insufficient to take them hack to safety had he been forced to land far from any base, yet with a larger outfit he would have failed. Therefore they took their lives in their hands and staked everything ou the machine.. It seemed as admirable to do this in peace as in war. FLIGHT COMMENT. OSLO, .May 10. Lunge Yoch, the Danish explorer is of the opinion that it is an impossible feat to fly fifteen hundred miles in sixteen, hours. On the contrary. Amundsen was among the first to congratulate Byrd. Doctor Skattun. President of the Norwegian Geograhpical Society says it was a good sporting flight.. Captain Salmer Hansen who is at King’s Bay, says the llight shows the cleverest of navigation. There is disappointment in Norway that Amundsen was not the first to reach the NQj;11 1 Pole by air, as site was the iirst to reach the South Pole by land. Byrd’s nose and several fingers of the left hand were frozen during the llight.

Amundsen proposes to start the Norge flight at any hour after tomorrow. The weather is still fine.