BACK FROM POLAR SOUTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 926, 20 March 1930, Page 9

BACK FROM POLAR SOUTH

WILKINS PLANS ARCTIC SUBMARINE TRIP DISCOVERIES ON EXPEDITION Reed. 9.5 a.m. NEW YORK, Wed. Sir Hubert Wilkins arrived today. He stated he would immediately begin conferences with engineers and technicians relative to his proposed Arctic submarine expedition from Spitzbergen to Alaska. The expense of the undertaking as well as the difficulties of preparation are giving him nlost concern, but he believed the necessary arrangements would be made. Speaking of the Antarctic work just ended, he said: “My explorations by air have shown that the coastline of the Antarctic Continent is an average of eight degrees further south than has liiterto been believed. “We have chipped off eight degrees from the edge of the continent.” He explained the difficulties they had in communicating with Rear-Ad-miral Byrd, and even the latter’s radio station, the nearest communication, could arrange this only through San Francisco. “We were very anxious to know all about Byrd’s attempt to fly to the South Pole,” he added, “but it was not until three days after he made his flight that we got news of it.” The explorer said he felt fit and appeared in excellent physical condition.