Evening star., 1925-06-24
Secretary Had Sent Order
Recalling Planes Unless
Order Was Needed.
EQUIPMENT Is RUSHED
TO AIRCRAFT AT SYDNEY
Satisfactory Communication Held
More Certain With Change
in Wireless Set.

After the Navy Department had
threatened today to withdraw from
participation in the Macmillan Arctic
expedition, the National Geographic
Society, joint sponsor OF the under
taking, announced that an agreement
mad been reached and the exploration
would be carried through as planned
The Navy insisted on the installa-
tlon on the Peary, one of the ships
Of the expedition, of Navy long-wave
radio apparatus which had been left
behind. 1t rushed the equipment
north to Sydney by the destroyer
Putnam, to be put aboard the Peary.
1t was agreed, the Geographic
Society said, that the Navy's wishes
would be carried out, and it was
added that the whole incident was
due to d misunderstanding.
Secretary Wilbur was in touch to-
day by radio with Lieut.. Comdr r. e
Byrd, IN charge of the Navy's end Of
the expedition and advised him that
unless way could be found to install
standard Navy radio equipment on At
least one of the two planes 10 be used
in reconnaissance work, the Navy
equipment could not be used and men
and equipment should return to the
United States Immediately.
The entire expedition, with the
two Macmillan ships, the Perry and
Bowdoin, are now at Sydney. Nova
Scotia, and are preparing TO sail for
Etah, Greenland, next Friday In the
meantime the Navy destroyer Putnam
is speeding northward from Boston
for Sydney with the Navy radio sets
on board, prepared to carry out the
orders of the Secretary.
Present Set Held Useless.
The present equipment of the Mac
MILAN expedition, which is sponsored
by the National Geographic Society
together with the Navy, consist only
OF Zenith high frequency, transmitting
sets. The claim is made by the Navy
that these sets are practically useless
in daytime, are not feasible for proper
transmission of messages from a
plane while in the air and do not have
radio compass facilities. The standard
Navy flve-kilOwatt set, long wave
low frequency set Is particularly
adapted for transmission of messages
from plane in the air, Navy Depart
ment officials say. and will act as a
positive safeguard to men and equip
ment while either of the two Navy
planes is exploring the vast area
north of Alaska where the Macmillan
expedition will go.
T.. +. Mcdonald, second in command
of the Macmillan expedition, Is an Of
fetal Of the Zenith Radio Corpora
ton, according TO the Navy Depart
ment. and has equipped the entire ex-
pedition with Zenith broadcasting
equipment. Attempts We're made to
place the standard Navy set on the
two Macmillan ships when they left
Boston and Wiscasset, Me-, a few
days ago, but at both places, Navy
Department officials declare, Mr.. Nc
Ia IA r.
either the Peary or the Bowdoin for
the Navy sets, and they were left on
the dock.
Explains Navy's Part.
Secretary Wilbur made it plain to-
day that the Navy personnel and
equipment, consisting of three officers
and five men, three airplanes, pro
visions and spare parts, have not
been loaned either to Macmillan or the
National Geographic Society, but
have simply been ordered to cooper
ate with the Macmillan expedition in
its explorations of the uncharted
wastes of the north.
The Navy end of the expedition will
remain under complete control of the
Navy Department, although Comdr.
Donald Macmillan will arrange details
of explorations, bases and so forth.
Comdr. Byrd has been given orders to
so operate the flying unit as to insure
safety of equipment and personnel as
far as possible.
Text of Wilbur Wire.
Secretary Wilbur had sent the fol-
lowing radiogram to Lieut.. Comdr. r.
E. Byrd at Sydney, Nova Scotia:
'Florida's spark set is being sent
you at Sydney by Destroyer Putnam.
Planes will not make fight away from
vicinity of base ship until spark set
is installed to insure communication
with planes and TO give compass bear
ings to planes as originally agreed
upon. Inform Macmillan Of depart
ment's decision which is for purpose
of safeguarding planes and person
mel. If these instructions cannot be
compiled with arrange to land planes
and personnel at Sydney for return
to the United States"