Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-21
BY JOHN l.. COOLEY.
Associated Press Science Editor.

Associated Press Science Editor.
NEW YORK, August 21.--Airplanes.
husky dogs, tractors. SnowmObiles and
sledgeS are to share the transportation
burden when Comdr Richard E. Byrd
and his south polar expedition reach
Antarctica.
A tri-motored Ford, single -motored
Fairchild and a single-motOred Fokker,
all monOplanes, are the aircraft chosen
for the battles with the thin. treacher-
GUS air and the vicious gales OF the
lofty southern continent. The ships
were tested vigorously with heavy loads
at high attitudes before they we're ac-
cepted, for most of the work they will
be called on TO do will take them over
land that is at a mean elevation of
nearly 1000 feet.
Planes Successful.
7 Planes have been used with brilliant
success in the Arctic. Byrd. Of course.
few from Kings Bay, Spitzbergen. 70
the North Pole and back and also made
important flights in Greenland Capt
Sir George Hubert wilkins took p
heavier-than-air craft across the top
Of the world. But never has a pro-
peller turned on the Antarctic CONT
nent where the problems of flight are
considerably more difficult
Dogs have a long record Of satisfac-
tory service in polar transportation
and not even the airplane has outdated
them. Comdr. Byrd is taking 30 l1us-
ktes and malamutes. trained by Arthur
T. Walden of Wonalancet. N. H.. TO
haul the sledges on the many side trips
to be made by members Of the expe-
dition.
They will be used too, in laying down
the subbaSes along the route OF the
polar flight. an assignment that will
send them in all over $500 miles Of
ice and snow A special team OF light
dogs may ride in the plane that takes
of for the Pole. but their services will
be needed only in the event that
forced landing necessitates an overland
dash to the nearest subbase.
Work of Tractors.
Tractors and snowmobiles of various
| types have been employed in the Ant
arctic by other explorers. The Byrd
! party expects to use these machines In
transporting heavy equipment in and
| about the base camp.
| No polar expedition can venture far
| afleld without sledges. drawn by dogs
! or men. or both, and so these Antarctic
I Adventures are taking many such We
, hicles for the hard journeys that await
| the exploring parties
| The first transportation problem 20
| be solved by the expedition is the
| movement of men, supplies and equip
/ ment to the base on the Ross Sea ice
+ barrier This job has been assigned TO
/ the stocky bark Samson. which was
/ built for just the sort of sailing afford
! ed by the southern ocean.
Constructed in Norway in 1885 as a
| mother ship for whalerS, the 512-ton
vessel was designed TO weather icy seas
| and has a record Of many years of
service in the subarctic. Her hull is
| slightly wedge-shaped enabling her 10
/ rise when the ice exerts its tremendous
! pressure Her bow is a mighty ram
| that butts a passage through stubborn
! foes.
:. Samson Carries Sails.
/ The Samson measures 149 feet and 9
I inches over all. has beam of 81 feet
/ and inch and a depth of II feet and
| l inch. Her hull has been reinforced
/ with stout cross timbers "a inches thick.
4 1t Is believed that no other ship has
sides that thick Her machinery has
/ been overhauled and improved and new
maStS have been stepped She burns
coal. but carries the full rigging OF
| bark to increase her Steaming speed
and to use in case the coal gives out
battling with the ice.
The expeditions airplanes. disman-
tied can ride to Antarctica on her
decks. Their motors viii be slowed in
! the hold with the vast stores OF food
| clothing scientific instruments and
other equipment.
tCopyrishs, 1927