New Britain herald., 1925-06-17

aa he his many visits 10 tho Arctic nevvs has lost man, and Secre- tary Wilbur says he is satisfied the expedition has been planned on sound safe lines. No effort to reach the North Pole Is contemplated, MacMilan being contented with Peary's effort in that respect and the Geographic society and the navy being interested primarily in the scientific questions awaiting study in the Arctic.
 To that end complete equipment and scientific personnel has been brought together. The airplanes will carry thorough mapping apparatus by which the re- gions may be photographed from the air, and an as- sortment of motion and still cameras Arrangements have also been made for obtaining color photographs Of the regions 10 be visited, as well as their plant, ani- mai and fish life.
 Over 30 Men
 All told Including the crews of the two vessels. there are over 80 men in the expedition. MacMlIan is assisted by John Reinartz Of south Manchester, Conn, kand E. F. Nc Donald of Chicago, president Of the Radio Broadcssters leagle of Amer ica, as radio experts. while among the scientists are Dr. Walter N. Koelz, an ichthyoIogist, and Lieu tenant Benjamin H. Riggs of the Coast and Geodetc survey, an expert on topography and tides.
 The expert in charge of color photography is Jacob J. Gayer. while in general charge of photog- rnphy Is Maynard Owen Williams, both of whom have been assigned by the Geographic society. Com mandng the Peary is Captain George F. Steele of RoXbury, Mass. while assistants 10 MacMilan in navigat- ing the Bowdoin are Ralph Robin son 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, Ore: 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, '" and Chief Aerographer AL bert Francis of San Diego. who will observe meteorological conditions.
 The officers will fly the airpIanes and the enlisted men will assist in the work and keep the planes in condition. 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 until Etah is reached. Radio Equipment
 A complete radio equipment will he carried, so that constant con- 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 a standard navy set and the other the short wave apparatus recently developed. The plan is 10 send in daily reports of the progress of the expedition to both the navy department and the Geogra phic society for announce ment 10 the press.
 Belief that land exists in the In- known region between the North Pole and Alaska is predicted upon traditions of Eskimo tribes, which tell of some of their people years ago going out to such land never to return; upon tidal observations which indicate 8 great obstrucflnn of land or ice in that region and upon mtrages seen from Axel Hei- berg land by both Peary and Mac Milan.
 If such land Is found the Ameri- can flag will he raised and it will he claimed for the rnited States.
 The purely scientific phases of the expedition. however, present an at tractive field. There are many spe- cies of Arctic fish known to the ex- plorer that have never been studied by scientists and for that purpose color photography will be of invalu- able assistance. If land is discov- cred 1t is felt certain that interest ing animal species will also be found there, for the land will have hoen cut off from the North American continent for centuries. That anil nal life will he found there is re- garded as a certainty, inasmuch ss animal life has been found on every land so far discovered in the Arctic, Insofar as plant lifc is con. cerned. it Is pointed out that north of the Arctic circle there are already
 known So7 varieties of flowers.