Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-10
Commander Will Sail for New
Zealand to Join Other
Three Ships.
MAY SPEND THREE YEARS
IN SOUTH POLAR REGIONS
Eighty-two Men in Party Which
Will Face Hardships in
Daring Venture.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SAN PEDRO, Calf, october TO-
Comdr. Richard E. Byrd and his little
group of followers prepared to bid good
bye to the United States today as their
final gesture before emharking on a
long trek which. will take them into
voluntary exile in the Antarctic regions
for from one to three years.
The explorer, who left his mark in
the Arctic by flying over the North
Pole area, and who spanned the At
lantic by airplane in one of the most
thrilling of transoceanic flights, will
meet adventure at the neither end of
the earth by essaying to FILL in the
blank spaces on the map" of that
region.
New Zealand First Objective.
Aboard the stanch whaler c. A. Lar
sen, Byrd and his eager companions
were ready to start at flood tide today
for Dunedin, New Zealand, where their
drive into the South polar zone begins.
Across the Pacific Ocean they will
follow three other vessels of the Byrd
expedition, the Sir James Clark Ross,
the Eleanor Boiling and the City of
New York, already well on their way
to distant New Zealand. All four of
the ships carry great stores of sup
plies, including airplanes, which Byrd
will employ in his long exploration
of the so-called greatest frozen area
on earth. Eighty-two men will aid the
daring plans of the commander.
After its arrival here from New York
via the Panama Canal yesterday, the
LarSan was loaded with the last stores
for the expedition. Sheep, COWS ex-
plosiyeS, airplanes, polar transporta-
ton equipment and other important
supplies rode in her hull today as she
foated in the confines of the harbor
when workmen had finished their task
and 10000 tons of these supplies had
been slowed away.
Members Of Party.
Eager though they were to be off on
their voyage. none of the party express
ed anything but quiet elation as the
hour Of departure neared. Among tht
party were Harold l.. June, Bernt S.
Balchen, Dean G. Smith, airplane pi-
lots; E. j. Demass A. F. Rubber. Jere-
miah de Cocoa. airplane mechanics;
Martin Rhone. Sailmaker; Richard j.
iition; Ralph Shropshire, hydrograpfer;
Capt. A. S. Larker, Marine Corps ayi-
ator: Sergt. Benjamin Rother, mechan-
lc; Charles Logfren, personnel n1anag-
er;: Russell Owen, newspaper man, and
William Vandeveer, photographer.
After supervising loading operations
yesterday the commander toured the
Hollywood film colony with Mrs. Byrd,
who is here to bid her husband god
speed on his exploration ship. Despite
the danger of the undertaking, she was
calm and cheerful Last night several
of the party amused themselves at
theaters, probably the last theatrical
entertainment for them for many
months.
Will Be Given Farewell.
As the Larsen slips past the break
water, American Legion members. ship
ping craft, Seafarers and citizens ar
ranged to give the party hearty fare
well. The whaler will be escorted to the
open sea by harbor vessels, and at
sunset probably will have faded from
view on the Pacific horizon.
Byrd'S plans estimate his arrival at
Dunedin about November S, where the
Larsen will join the three other ships.
A month and a half later he hopes to
penetrate a 200-mile ice barrier and
be riding in the open stretches Of the
Ross Sea, approximately 1000 miles
from the Pole. Somewhere in this area
his base of operations will be estab-
liShed.
Telegraphic messages expressing hopes
of success were received by Comdr,
Byrd from many friends and prominent
countrymen no the eve Of his departure.