San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-08-21
NEED D|R|G|BLE
FOR FLIGHT
TO POLE
Macmillan Declares Plane
Cannot Cope With
Arctic Ice.
BY the Associated Press


WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.-Lighter
than-air machines, like the dirigibles
Shenandoah and Los Angeles, are,
in the opinion of Commander Donald
B. Macmillan, the types of craft best
suited to overcome the ice hazards
that the far north presents to the ex-
plorer.
The continually drifting ice floes,
he has radioed the National Geor-
graphic Society, makes uncertain the
landing of heavier than air machines,
as one day a ford may be open only
to be icebound the next.
Under such conditions, he said, a
cache established by an airplane lis
not help but a menace for ii depend
ed upon and n plane arrives out OF
fuel destruction is certain"
The "lighter-than machines can
do the work." he added, "and should
do it at the earliest opportunity"
MESSAGE BY RADIO.
This message, received by the so
ciety ]ate yesterday made no mention
of how long the explorer expected to
remain in the Arctic regions collecting
scientific information now that 1t has
been definitely decided TO abandon et'
forts to fly over the uncharted Polar
sea.
However, in a dispatch received by
Daniel w. Hoegg, managing editor oil
the Portland, Me-, Evening Express
Commander Macmillan expressed the
hope OF returning next month.
It also was learned that about the
time officers of the society, which rs
sponsor for the expedition, decided to
abandon the polar flight, but Com
mander Byrd, in charge of the navy
planes with the party, was still hoping
for one more chance to try his planes
against the northern ice barriers.
REPAIR PLANE.
The navy flier was not wholly con
WINGED of the futility Of further eli,
forts to penetrate the far north ana
Mt least was anxious to make one more
flight with maximum loads before al
hitting that the task could not De
done.
with the polar flight called off, the
expedition is expected to carry out
its further explorations promptly as
it now has two airplanes in service
! able condition, repairs to one when
\yas partly damaged by fire Tuesday
Having been completed.
Although the dispatch to Portland
said he would return home next
mhnth. the belief was expressed by
Officials here that it would probably
be October before he arrived at Wis
casset, Me.
It required six weeks for the ex-
pedition to reach Etah. Greer land, the
main base, they pointed out and It
would be natural to assume an equal
length of time for the return voyage.
FEW DETAILS. 't
The explorations to be conducted
in Greenland, Labrador and Baffin
Island can be carried out expediously
with the swift moving airplanes and
so It is not believed this work will
delay materially the progress of the
ships southwark.
Details of these plans, however,
have not been received in Washington
and it is not known just how soon
the expedition will leave Etah.
On the return voyage there has
been a suggestion that the steamer
Peary, with the naval contingent
aboard, might precede by few days
tire Bowdoin with Commander Mac
MILAN and the scientists aboard.
No official advices were received
to settle this point, however, and
opinion as to what procedure would
be followed were divided.
The Bowdoin, some said, might
come home more lcisurely, making
scientific Investigations along the
coasts as It proceeded and the Peary
might push ahead and conduct the
explorations by air as rapidly as
possible.
On the other hand Commander Mac
MILAN, charged with responsibility as
leader of the expedition. might desire
tn keep the Peary close by under his
direct command.