A VALUABLE AID

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1928, Page 2

A VALUABLE AID

THE BYRD EXPEDITION’S equipment. WELLINGTON. Dee. 18. Although the Byrd expedition is not thc> pioneer of radio in the Antarctic it is the first scientific and exploring venture to the Far South equipped to maintain continuous communication with the outside world. Sir Douglas Mawson’s expedition of 1911-1-1 established radio stations at Macquarie Island and at the main base at Commonwealth Bay. in Adelie Land, but the latter was not powerful enough to communicate with Australia oi New Zealand. Wireless has made great strides since 1911-1-1. and the Byrd expedition lias the very latest and best radio ’quipnient, both short wave and long wave, procurable. Much ol the upland us for the ships, the base station ••t the Bay of Whales, and the aeroda lies. was specially designed to meet the unusual requirements ol the expedition. The supply ships, City ot sew York and Eleanor Bolling, have been in direct win less comnninicut ion with New York ever since they left •hat port. All the Way across the Pacific frill Panama to Now Zealand, tlic ships, though hundreds of miles apart, were ill touch with each other. Every Saturday since they left New York die Wostinghoiiso Company’s radio station at Pittsburg has sent out a weekly broadcast to the ships, and this will be maintained with the ships and the main base at the Bay of Whales until the end of March, 1930, wlicii the expedition is expected to return. Arrangements have also been .made for the members of the expedition to exchange weekly messages with their families and friends in various parts of the United States. The Pittsburg broadcast lias boon picked up by many listeners in the Dominion. Since the City of New York and the Plea nor Bolling left Dunedin at the beginning of this month they have been sending and receiving radio messages to and from New \ork. 'I Heir radio equipment lias also been of immense value in connection with the business of the expedition in New Zealand. .Many problems that have cropped up since the shins sailed have been speedily and satisfactorily settled 'iv means of radio. Air G. Brophv second in command, and business manager of the expedition, has been in almost daily touch with Radio Dunedin 'mil Wellington, with Commander Byrd in the City of New link, and Captain Brown, master of the Eleanor Rolling. IP- lias known all along exactly bow the ships were progressing, and since they parted company, just when the Eleanor Bolling will reach Dunedin.

In bvgono da.Vs, once an expedition had sailed for the Antarctic, it was completely out of touch with the world and any omissions in its equipment could not be remedied. In the case of tho Byrd expedition, Commander Byrd lias been able to radio instructions regarding many details in connection with which experience on the southward passage lias suggested improvements and the loading ol the supply steamer. Last week commander Byrd sent a radio message to Air Brooby that there appeared to be a shortage in certain equipment but the latter was able to forward an immediate reply stating exactly where it was stowed in the sliip and the following day lie received a message stating that tin 1 goods bad been found. To-day's interesting dispatch from Mr Russell Owen, staff correspondent of flic “New York Times’’ with the expedition is an outstanding example of ilie value of radio. His account of the adventures of tin* City of New York in the pace ice. 1099 or 17>90 miles from New Zealand, was sent direct from flic little ship by radio to the offi'-e of the ‘ New A’ork Times.” whence it was telegraphed to \ anloiiver and thence cabled to New Zealand. Allowing for tile difference in time, it aopears in the Dominion newspapers twenty-four hours alter publication in New ) ork.