Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-19
Macmillan Present
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caused another demonstration soon
afterward when in opening his ad-
dress he announced the welcome
news, which he had just received
from The Associated Press, that
Road Amundsen, the Norwegian ex-
plorer, and his party had safely re-
turned to Spitzbergen after having
been missing for four weeks. The
crowd went wild with pleasure at the
thrilling announcement of SO much
Importance to the success OF the
acMillan- Navy Arctic expedition,
which leaves Wiscasset, Saturday
afternoon.
First, he introduced Lieutenant
Commander Richard E. Byrd and all
the officers and chief petty officers
who make up the navy personnel for
the three navy amphibian planes
which accompany the expedition for
purposes. Those present
arose as each man was introduced.
DR.. Macmillan, who later extended
heartiest congratulations to the Nor
wegian and his men, said that it had
been the purpose of the members OF
the expedition to go in search OF
Amundsen and to cover the three
great northern capes where he
might be- found. This. he added.
would be work Of the greatest danger.
but the whole personnel was resolved
to do it before they did anything else.
He then announced that there had
just been received the news that
Amundsen was safe.
Macmillan then went on to tell
what they now would do, describing
the plans to search for the unknown
continent of more than 100000
square miles in the Polar Sea, which
the late Rear Admiral Peary saw,
and which he himself had tried to
locate with dog teams. He said they
still do not know whether it was real
land or a mirage. They could do
this work with planes, but never
could do 1t with dog teams or In a
ship. s~ ~
DIR. Macmillan said they would
protect the planes by having them
travel in pair, holding one in re-
serve, and they further would pro-
tect them with Eskimos and dog
teams, establishing bases of supplies.
The navy department has assured
rescue would be attempted with a
dirigible.
He also referred to the fact that the
expedition is backed by the National
Geographic Society, with its million
members, and by the government.
adding that President Coolidge and
Secretary of the Navy Wilbur were
keenly interested.
He paid tribute to the navy men,
saying he was confident Of keeping
up radio communication at all times,
because Of the latest test a distance
of 1900 miles had been reached.
Lieutenant Commander Byrd spoke
with reference to the construction of
the three planes and how they would
operate.
Robert Edwin Peary, who. when
the news was received from his faith
err that "the Stars and Stripes had
been nailed to the North Pole" pa
raded in boyish glee in 1909 with a
small flag nailed to a long stick, was
an interested listener as one Of to-
days graduates. He specialized in
the sciences.
At the commencement dinner
President Kenneth c. M. Stills an
nounced that former Governor Will
liam T. Cobb had been elected vice
president of the board of trustees,
and Rev. Daniel Evans of Cambridge
Theological Seminary had been
fill the vacancy caused blythe death
of President Samuel V. Cole of
Wheaton College. Frederick H. APP
pleton of Bangor has resigned as
trustee and Judge John A. Morrill,
of Auburn has been elected to fill
the vacancy.
Charles G. Halves of Bangor was
elected president and Judge John A.
Peters of Ellsworth vice president
of the board of overseers. vacan-
cies in that body were filled by the
election of Edward Cooling of Bos-
ton, and Clement f. Robinson of
Portland.
Gifts totalling 100000 were an
nounced, including $4,000 from the
class of 1875 which is celebrating
it's 5Oth reunion, duplicating their
gift of two years ago. President
Stills also announced that the boards
had increased the salaries of men,
bers Of the faculty by Is per cent,