Evening star., 1925-08-19
Early Winter Balks ExpIora-
: tion Over Polar Sea-Will
Garry on Rest of Objects of
Expedition From Etah.
AIR TRIP IMPOSSIBLE"
NOW, COMMANDER SAYS
Geographic Society Praises Efforts
in Message to Party-Another
Attempt Likely Next Summer,
With Belief Experience Will Be
of High Value for New Try.

The Macmillan Arctic expedition
has abandoned hope of carrying out
its full exploration program over
the Polar Sea this year.
Curtailment of the expeditions
| activities was forced by adverse
weather, which has locked the
Northland in ice and fog well ahead
of the usual Winter season.
Macmillan and his explorers will
proceed, however, to carry out other
objects of the expedition, including
scientific Investigations from the
present base at Etah, Greenland.
The change in plans was an
nounced today by the National
Geographic Society, after it had been
advised by Macmillan that the prof.
ect of establishing an advanced
base on Cape Hubbard and flying
from there over the frozen north
ern sea was not feasible because OF
this years unusual weather condi-
tions.
Called Impossible Feat.
The veteran explorer advised society
officials that, in view of all the cir
cumstances, to go ahead with the
original plan would be TO attempt
"the impossible"
The society's announcement said:
Unexpected Summer snowstorms.
continuous fog and unprecedented
weather conditions, which prevent fly
ing, resulted in the announcement to-
day by the National Geographic So
ciety that the Macmillan Arctic ex-
pedition would proceed Immediately
from Etah to accomplish other OBJ
jectives of the expedition
This decision was made following
a radio message from Macmillan stat
ing that he and the expedition mem
bers now agree that establishment of
an advance station on Cape Hubbard
and exploring the Polar Sea from that
point is not feasible this year in the
time left before the Bowdoin and the
Peary would have to leave Etah ahead
of the ice barrier.
Going Ahead With Other Plans.
"Comdr. Macmillan has been advis-
ed by the National Geographic So
ciety to follow his judgment in the mat
plOrations the expedition planned as
soon as he deems it wise, leaving the
Polar Sea work for a subsequent ef-
fort
John Oliver La Gorce, vice presi-
dent of the society, this morning sent
the following radio message to the
leader of the expedition:
1.-The National Geographic Society
has every confidence in your decision,
and integrity, and will stand by your
judgment in delaying further explora-
ton of unknown area. We concur
with proceeding upon further plans of
expedition. The society Is proud of
you and every man under your COM
mand and congratulates you, Comdr.
Byrd and Navy personnel on the
splendid attempt
Important Studies Planned.
''As announced at the outset, the
expedition contemplated an explora-
tion of Morse ruins in Greenland and
Labrador, with a view to comparing
the two and thus to determine wheth.
er there was eleventh century COM
munication between the Old World
and the New. The explorers also plan
ned, on the return trip, to explore by
airplane the interior of unknown Lab
fish life, and also the Eskimo tribes.
Another important objective are
the flights contemplated over Baffin
Island, a new Great Lakes region of
this continent, which lakes TEEN with
fish life, and the entire area is a habi-
tat of many kinds of birds which are
of greatest interest to the naturalist
and the sportsman.
"MacMillan's message describing
the handicaps imposed by weather
conditions pointed out:
1--WE have been here lat Etah) 18
days. Two depots have been estab-
lished only 80 miles from the ship
base. We have a thousand miles to go.
in addition to another thousand to es.
tablish an advance station. Since this
must be done in 10 days we now are
wasting time in trying the impossible
this season, and defeating all other
objects of the expedition
"Comdr. Macmillan paid the high.
est tribute to Comdr. Byrd and the
entire Navy personnel for their ex-
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