Evening star., 1926-05-11
EXPERTS ACCEPT
/. CLAIMS OF BYRD
Europeans, However, Seek
Proof-Great- t-great-g
mother Predicted Success.
3y Me Associated Press.

NEW YORK, May 11.-Americal
Navy experts are accepting as tac
accomplished the flight OF Lieut.
Comdr. Richard L. Byrd and PHO
Floyd Bennett from Spitzbergen t.
the North Pole and back, notwith
: standing the feeling of reserve helC
In Italy, Denmark, Norway and Ger
many, pending positive proof OF the
achievement.
With his sun compass and his oWr
bubble sextant Byrd at all times was
able to determine his exact position
TO know positively when he crossed
over the Pole and circled about it
IT is the belief of the naval eXperte
that, with bright sun shining and
absolute freedom from fog or clouds
Byrd was certain, when he returned
to Kings Bay Sunday, that he had
ViSualized from the air the scene thai
Peary had observed from the ice, the
exact top of the world.
Mariners Compass Useless.
It is the opinion in Naval circles
that. with the formula which had
been worked out to determine his geo
graphical position, Byrd's claim will
prove outside the realm of contradiC
ton. Because Of the sun compass and
his own bubble SeXtant, resort to the
mariners compass, which is of little
value in the Arctic regions, owing
TO magnetic variations, was unneceS-
sary. He sailed straight away to-
ward the Pole, without any markers
below to show him the route, and the
plane winged its way back over the
vast stretches ot ice directly to the
spot where the birdmen started on
their momentous journey.
By tho Associated Press.
From Rome come reports of some
tncredulity, but it is admitted that if
the CLAIM is scientifically proved, 1t
will mark q wonderful achievement.
The chief doubt raised in the minds
Of the Italians Is over the ability
Of the plane Josephine Ford to me-
gotiate 1900 miles from SpitZbergen
10 the Pole and return in 151a hours.
1t is contended that when the Amund.
sen-Ellsworth dirigible Norge. which
was built near Rome, makes its
fight over the Pole, it will make
scientific investigations under more
favorable conditions than are possible
from an airplane.
Hailed as Characteristic.
In Germany, although reServiiig
final Judgment until Comdr. Byrd pre-
sents proof supporting his claim. the
newspapers hail his announced con-
quest of the Pole as a characteristic
result Of Yankee enterprise and dar-
ing"
In the opinion of the Danish ex-
plorer Peter Freuchen, Byrd solved
the problem where Amundsen failed
last year "by travelling light" Freu-
chen says that if the commander as
serts that he circled the Pole I'VE
may be certain he has done So"
DIR. Skattum, president Of the Geo
graphical Society Of Norway. asserts
that it is impossible to accept Byrd S
claim until his observations are pub
lished.
Great Great Grandmother PrOphesies.
Mrs. J. Rivers Byrd of Baltimore,
grandmother of Comdr. Byrd, was
not astonished at the achievement OF
the commander. Great great grand.
mother Byrd, she said, predicted a
long time ago that one of her de-
scendants would get to the Pole.
"In some sort of ia conveyance a
Byrd was to go to the Pole" she
said. but Great at-grandmothe
did not include airships. Journeys
through the air were only known in
fairy tales in her time. If anybody
was to reach the Pole, I just knew
that Dick would do it,"