Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-26
BY WILLIAM Nj. LAAS.

IF Comdr. Byrd we're to take with
him into the Antarctic all the
gadgets and doodads which have
/ been offered. the expedition would
need several ships the size of the
Leviathan. AS 1t Is, record Of the re-
auired equipment includes more than
/ 200 items. even after carefully weed
ing out unessential details. The trip
will cost more than 100000.
Enterprising tradesmen. especially
food manufacturers, engaged In mad
rush TO get Byrd to accept their prod
ucts gratis. 1t is a distinction. you see
to be able TO say that certain article
kept men hale and hearty through the
privations Of an Antarctic Winter.
One company. for instance, offered
to donate a ton OF chocolate yeast. A
good food, undoubtedly, but ton takes
up a lot OF badly needed space. An
other firm wanted Byrd to carry. a
huge consignment OF Its cough drops
And ne has received hundreds OF sam
pies of trick designs In cold-weather
clothing.
The expeditions staff OF advisers has
spared no pains to anticipate the needs
of the men on the ice. The work OF the
party will require a year or two OF iso-
lation In the Antarctic wastes and no
deficiencies can be made up after leav-
ing civilization. Their lives depend on
the foresight OF the outfitters Scott
perished in the cold because OF a few
mistakes, and Byrd Is taking no
chances. He started the preparations
for this expedition while still at Kings
Bay, Spitzbergen. two years ago.
First in Importance, of course. were
the problems of transportation. A ship,
the Samson, since renamed the City of
New York, was procured. Although
rather smaller than desired, it is a
sturdy craft especially built for ice
breaking, On 1t will be carried three.
airplanes~a large three -rnotored one
and two smaller ones for scouting work.
The larger one Is capable of taking off
with big load al a high altitude. The
Antarctic plateau is 10000 feet high
and there are few planes which can fly
heavily loaded at $4,000 To $4,000 feet.
For moving the planes about in high
winds and for hauling supplies specially
built snow tractors were selected In
addition, there Is small automobile
equipped with caterpillar treads behind
and skis In front. And II motor power
should fail, there are numerous SledS
with Is dogs to pull them,
The sleds are of various types Those
to be hauled IN trains by the tractors
are small double~ended affairs but
since they are likely to slip back on
an ley slope, the Alaskan basket type
VIII be used tor penetrating The in
terror They are held together by
thong lashingS rather than screws, and
though only so pounds In weight, can
carry 200 pounds easily. The planes,
which will do much of the long -dis-
lance work, are equipped for landing
on ice or open water
When clambering on foot over gla-
cier-bound mountains the explorers viii
be outfitted with implements from the
icy regions of the earth The skis are
from Norway, and climbing rope, ice
axes, alpinestocks and ski-poles have
been purchased In Switzerland. The
costly experience of generations Of Al
pinists will rebound to the benefit OF
Byrd's gallant crew.
Bases will be set up on the ice to
house the men and TO permit the SCI
entists to carry on their work. A new
type Of Antarctic house will be used,
This Is collapsible wooden affair
built to give protection against the eS-
creme cold without sacrificing proper
ventilation. Machine shops manned by
EAHCINnIEu IIMilAIilfil VIII Ue set UP
for repairing equipment, Carpenters
and machinists are included In the
party, AZ well as two or three Eskimos
for sewing fur clothing.
Clothing Is one of the most impor-
tant requisites of the expedition The
temperature falls To Is degrees below
zero where Byrd will Winter, and the
Antarctic storms are the worst In the
world, Consequently. the clothes To be
used are OF the highest possible quality
The furs are all from Alaska having
been prepared by the Eskimos The
parkas are Of reindeer skin lined with
faNn skin and they are large enough
To go over plenty of heavy undercloth-
Ing and yet allow freedom Of move
ment Caps are of fur, too. and there
are socks made with fur inside TO alb
sorb the moisture from feet inclosed
in many pairs OF stockings, The mois-
ture goes through the stockings and fur
onto the hide. iessening the danger of
frozen feet
Frozen feet" sounds unimportant, but
here Is one Of the greatest dangers
confronting travellers In cold regions
A man with frosthItten feet Is worse
than useless Consequently, adequate
faptgear is OF vital Importance, The
boots are large enough to be worn over
I'VE PAIRS OF wool seeka-~ia fact 20