WITH BYRD'S MEN

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 222, 21 October 1929, Page 7

WITH BYRD'S MEN

Australian Press Association.

SLEDGE PARTIES SET OUTti Tra®per§ Have A Hard Task.

BAY OF WHAEES, Oct. IS. Larry Gould and the xuembers of his geologiqal party, who had accompenied the supporting party for two days ou trail, returned last night to tlie " base, and.wjth him came Norman Yaughan, Eddie Goodale, Jack O'Brien and Mike Thorne, who had droppCd their loads whei-e tliey can he picked up, later and returned with a Ught eledge. • Carl Petersen, who had gone out to test a radio set and radio direotioji finder for use in connection with the planes Jater on, and Joe Rucker, who made movies of tlie trail work,. also returned. They had. perfect weather during tha three days, but brought back word that the supporting party was having a hard time because of the condition of the surface. It is in a state of transition and has a hard crust, through which the sledge runners break to granqlar and sandlike snow beueath, over which traction is very difficult. As a result they will prohably travel very slowly until the warmer weather.- It was zero yesterday afternoon and has been hovering around zero this morning. The warmth makes the surface softer and hauling easier. While the dog teams were -struggling over the surface, the aroplanes are being rapidly put . in . condition. The engine of the Fairchild was started th© day the teams left and is being run again this morning for a final tuning. That plane, whioh was ••used so much last year and was in perfect condition when dugout this year from. its snow hanger; is about ready to take the air whenever needed, but, of course, with a blizzard lik'ely to blow up any moment, it is not -prohahlo there -will be any fiyiug yet awhile. The sun smiles here one moment and an hour later there may he a liowling wind and blinding drift, but it is good to hear the sound of the. motor again, for it means that the time when flying is possible is rapidly approaching. By Russell Owen, cqpyright, 1929, by the New York Times Company and throughout the worlct. Wireless by fche St. Post Louis Despatch. • All peAaesaj uoiTcoqqnd JOJ siqgix New York Times.