Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-18

Lieutenant Commander Richard E.
Byrd, of Winchester, Va, who has
selected the navy personnel and avi-
alton equipment and will be respou-
sible to the secretary Of the navy
although working in cooperation
with the main expedition. With him
are two officers and four enlisted
men Of the navy while at their dis
posal are three airplanes of the am
phibian type which can maneuver
from the land, ice, and water. Lit
tie difficulty In their operation is ex-
pected, as Macmillan believes the
minimum temperatures encountered
will not be excessive.
The expedition after touching at
Wiscasset, Me-, and then at Sydney
N. S., for coal and other supplies,
will go direct to Etah, Greenland,
where the main base will be estab-
lished. From there the airplanes
will go to Cape Hubbard on the
northern point of Axel Heiberg land,
to establish an advance flying base.
Two ships are being used. The
Bowdoin. a veteran of other Arctic
trips with Macmillan, accommodates
Macmillan, scientists and other per-
sonnet of the main expedition. The
Peary is conveying the three air.
planes and the navy section of the
expedition. But two of the airplanes
Will be used actively in exploration,
the third being held at Etah with
the vessels as a reserve for possible
emergency.
The plan calls for two airplancs
to scout northwest from Axel Hell
berg land in exploring the unknown
region and in looking for land which,
possibly of continental mass, is be-
lieved to lie between Alaska and the
North Pole. Unless land is discov-
cred, however, the entire unknown
region will not be covered because
of the limitation of the aircraft
operations. At least. 100000 square
miles will be surveyed by having the
planes shoot out in three different
lines for distance of about 500
miles. The two will travel together
at all times and IL land is discovered
the advance flying base will be adj
vanced to 1t and the scouting opera
tons continued from the new point.
In such an event it is conceivable
that the entire unknown area may
be surveyed
At least three separate flights will
be conducted from Cape Hubbard,
and IT land Is not discovered the ex-
petition will then retrace its steps.
making side trips over Ellesmere Is
land, Grant Land concerning whose
interiors little is known, and possi-
bly, to Cape Columbia at the north
east extremity Of Grant Land above
Greenland.
Retracing its steps still further to
the south the expedition intends to
survey from the air the interior of
Bamn Island, that vast mass discov-
cred GAG years ago by Sir Martin
Frobisher, the English navigator,
and concerning which little more is
known than in the days of Queen
Elizabeth. From there the expedi-
ton will visit the old Morse settle
ment of 1900 years ago near
Gothaab, Greenland, and then cross
TO the northeastern coast of Labra-
dor for a survey of its little known
interior and for study of the ruins
OF an ancient settlement there be-
lieved to be of Morse origin. The
expedition will then return to Wis
casset and should be back by late
fall.
Everything possible has been done
to assure the safety of the expedi-
ton. The National Geographic So
ciety points to the fact that MacMil-
Ian In his many visits to the Arctic
never has lost a man, and Secretary
Wilbur says he is satisfied the ex-
petition has been planned on sound,
safe lines. No effort to reach the
North Pole is contemplated, Mac
MILAN being contented with Peary's
effort In that respect and the Geo.
graphic Society and the navy being
interested primarily in the scientific
nIIoStinnQ a uyo n OF tn
tic.
To that end a complete equipment
and scientific personnel has been
brought together. The airplanes will
carry thorough mapping apparatus
by which the regions may be photo
graphed and plotted from the air,
and an assortment of motion and
still cameras. Arrangements have
also been made for obtaining color
photographs of the regions to be Wis
tied as well as their plant, animal
and fish life.
All told, including the crews of the
two vessels, there are over 80 men
in the expedition. Macmillan is as
sisted by John Reinartz, Of South
Manchester. Conn.,, and E. F. Nc
Donald of Chicago, president of the
Radio Broadcasters' League of
America, as radio experts, while
among the scientists are Dr. Walter
N. Koelz. an ichthyologist, and Lieu
tenant Benjamin H. Riggs of the
Coast and Geodetic Survey, an ex-
pert on topography and tides.
The expert in charge of color pho
Biography Is Jacob J. Gayer, while in
general charge of photography ii
Maynard Owen Williams, both of
whom have been assigned by the
Geographic Society. Commanding
the Peary is Captain George f.
Steele Of Roxbury, Mass, while as
sistants to Macmillan in navigating
the Bowdoin are Ralph Robinson, of
Merrimac, Mass, and John Jaynes,
of Somerville, Mass.
The navy section in addition to
Commander Byrd consists of Lieu
tenant M. A. Schur, of Marshfield,
Oregon; Chief Boatswain Earle E.
Reber, Of Chicago; Aviation Pilots
Nels p. Sorenson and Andrew c.
Mold. Of Washington. D. c.. and
Floyd E. Bennett of Warrenburgh.
N. Y; and Chief Aerographer Albert
Francis, of San Diego, who will OBJ
serve meteorological conditions.
The officers win fly the airplanes
and the enlisted men will assist IN
the work and keep the planes in con-
dition. Except for the wings, one of
the planes is to be carried assembled
on the deck of the Peary to Etah
but the other two have been broken
down and will not be assembled I'M
til Etah is reached.
A complete radio equipment will
be carried, so that constant COM
munication may be maintained with
civilization. Both the Peary and the
Bowdoin have high powered stand
ard navy sets, while one of the two
active planes will have standard
navy set and the other the short
wave anna ra tlIS RECENTLY develODed