Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-04
NAVY TO SPONSOR
DASH To NORTH POLE
co NJ n G SUMMER

Washington. Dec. "a dash by
7 airplane for the North Pole will be
launched by the Navy department
during the coming summer Secre-
tary DENLY announced today that
President Coolidge has given his
special approval to the project as
of great practical value"
The route, date and method of
procedure for the trip, however, are
still to be decided. a special board of
naval offcerS headed by Rear Ad-
miral William A. Moffett, chief of
Naval aeronautfcs, having been APP
pointed by Secretary DENLY to pre-
pare n detailed plan.
The project grew out of a desire
by Robert A. Bartlett. explorer who
sailed with Rear Admiral Robert E.
Peary in the steamer Roosevelt on
the expedition of 1908-9 which saw
the Stars and Stripes raised over the
North Pole, again to make that
journey. Mr.. Bartlett proposed to
Secretary DENLY some months ago
that the Roosevelt now in CONNER
cial service, be e-purchaSed and
equipped for polar work.
Discussion of the possibilities of a
new polar expedition was immedi-
ately begun in the Navy department.
1t was pointed out by naval aircraft
experts, however. that if a new
drifting" expedition were organized
by the navy. others, perhaps under
another flag, might attempt and
complete a journey to the Pole by
air before the Roosevelt party could
make half the distance. The decision
to employ naval aircraft followed.
Mr.. Bartlett, who is a lieutenant
commander in the naval reserve
force, for the purposes of the polar
expedition. has already been called
to active service in that rank and
appointed to the special planning
board of which he will also be re-
corder. Other members of the board
are Commander William r. Furlong,
Lieutenant Commander Ezra G. AL
len and Lieutenant Commander Fitz-
hugh Green, and Gilbert Grosvenor,
president of the National Geographic
Society.
Admiral Moffett's board has had
at its disposal all the governments
records of previous Attic explora-
tons, as well as information that the
American Geographic Society is able
to furnish. On the study of this
data as well as records of weather
conditions in the Attic will be found
ed a recommendation as to whether
the last lap of the journey shall be
undertaken in airplanes equipped
with skis for landing on the ice, or
with the great navy dirigible Shen-
andoah
Naval officials feel that the Shen-
andoah in many ways would be the
most desirable ship for the dash.
particularly because the airship can
hover over the Arctic regions while
motion picture records are made or
scientific data otherwise obtained.
There is no disposition, however, to
risk the Shenandoah unless there is
every reasonable prospect that she
can successfully accomplish the mis-
sion.
The announcement by the Navy de-
Dartment as to the instructions given
to Admiral Moffet's board said that
the purpose of the study would be
ito devise plans for an extensive ex-
ploration over unknown regions adj
jacent to the pole
when the expedition shall SAIL"
the announcement continued, d, "of
what it shall consist and what it's
known. These topics amongst many
others will be the subject of investi-
cation by the board.
The precept of the board under
which it was created merely directs
1t to prepare detailed plan and to
convene the board as soon as prac-
ticable."
In writing Secretary DENLY, under
date of November 20, approving the
project. President Coolidge expressed
the belief that it would be carried
through with the thoroughness and
efficiency which marks every project
which the navy undertakes"