Evening star., 1929-11-30
CAPITAL EXTOLS
BYRD'S COURAGE
Hoover CongratuIateS Aerial
Explorer in Radio Message
to Little America.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Washington today marveled at Comdr
Richard Z. Byrd's hazardous and sue.
cessful flight over the icy wasteland:
Of the South Pole and extolled the
courage and adventurous enthusiasm Of
the still-youthful explorer.
From all sides came expressions OF
amazement at the extraordinary sue
cess of the exploit, praise for the valoI
of Comdr. Byrd and his associates and
optimistic predictions of the scientific
value of the fight.
President Hoover lost no time in
transmitting his congratulations to
Byrd, far away at his base in Little
America. Through the New York Times
the Chief Executive sent a radio mes
sage telling the leader of the expedi-
ton of the universal pleasure" of the
American people that his goal had been
reached
Hoover Praises Courage.
I'VE are proud of your courage and
your leadership" Mr.. Hoover said. I'VE
are glad Of proof that the spirit Of
great adventure still lives. Our thoughts
of appreciation include also your COM
panions in the flight and your COL
leagues, whose careful and devoted
preparation have contributed to your
great success"
Meanwhile, some thought was given
to possible international complications
that may arise over the question of ma
tional title to the lands over which
Comdr Byrd few. Great Britain claims
much territory in the Antarctic region,
on the ground of previous discovery and
exploration.
When the present expedition was still
in the making, the London govern
ment dispatched a note to the United
States telling of its interest in the prof.
ect because of the land to which it
claims title. An inclosure outlined the
territory involved. In replying q few
weeks ago the State Department
acknowledged receipt of the note, but
avoided any discussion of the question
OF ownership of land.
GrOsvenOr COngratuIates Byrd.
The congratulations of the National
Geographic Society were sent to Comdr
Byrd by its president, DR.. Gilbert GroS-
venor. The flight, he said, adds AN
other illustrious achievement" to Byrds
unparalleled record in aerial explora-
ton" The society, he added, is right
fully proud Of having had a part in
supporting the expedition.
DR.. GrOsvenor also described some of
the difficulties that confronted Comdr
Byrd and contrasted them with those
encountered on his flight to the North
Pole.
The North Pole, he said. is an ocean.
the South Pole q continent. In reach
ing the former, he continued, Byrd few
over floating ice fields rising but a few
feet from the level of the sea, while in
his achievement of this week he was
compelled TO soar over gigantic noun
tain ranges rising to a height of 10000
to 1900 feet. -@-<
In addition, whereas the Northern
Polar region supports an abundance of
life, both vegetable and animal, the
Antarctic territory Is barren and COM
prises some Of the greatest ice fields in
the world.
Gen. Greeley Lauds Trip.
Among the first to proclaim Comdr
Byrd'S achievement was a veteran of
the days when polar exploration was
conducted with skis and dog-sled. He
was Gen. A. w. Greeley, now So, who
nearly so years ago was a member of
the expedition which then established
farthest north" record of 50 degrees
"a minutes. Priyation and hardship
haunted the expedition and but seven
returned Of the Is men that originally
made up the company.
DR.. Grosvenor. in his congratulatory
radio message to Comdr. Byrd. de-
clared:
"Heartiest congratulations upon your
successful flight to the South Pole,
which adds another lustrous achieve
ment to your unparalleled record in
aerial exploration" the message said
Seldom has 1t been given to one man
70 win such a series Of conquests over
nature as those represented in your
historic flights across the Atlantic and
to both Poles.
Your name will go down in Ant
arctic annals along with those other
nlustrious American pioneers of the icy
continent, Capt. Palmer and Lieut.
wilkes"
Four Expeditions to Credit.
DR.. Grosvenor said that Byrd now
had taken part in four expeditions, any
one Of which would make his name
live in the annals of exploration. He
enumerated the 1925 expedition whep
Byrd commanded the Geographic So
ciety's expedition operating from Etah
over much territory that had never be-
fore been viewed by humans; his flight
over the North Pole the next year; the
trip across the Atlantic, and his flight
over the South Pole.
DR.. Grosvenor said that the Antarctic
undertaking was faced with difficulties
far different from those encountered by
Byrd in his flight to the North Pole
In his North Pole flight, Byrd fieW
GFif2harnaF1 fno Rald ldo
rising only few feet above sea level
with here and there open leads OF
water; from the edge of the Southern
ice barrier he few over one of the
greatest ice fields in the world. ar
accumulation of ice rising $50 feet OIL
more above the sea and as solid as
land
TOrtuOuS Travel Of Amundsen.
'"There Is nearly 400 miles of this ice
barrier between Little America and the
mountains which mark the first exposed
land. 1t took Amundsen 81 days tC
cover this portion of his journey, thu
men travelling on skis and the sled'
OF provisions drawn by dogs"
Or. Grosvenor said that the first ex.
perience Of Byrd in aerial exploration
was in 1919 when he helped to char
the course and plan the navigation o.
the NC-4. which made the flight acros.
the Atlantic by way OF the Azores.
On the 1925 trip into the Arctic
Byrd commanded the aviation detail
Of the Navy to the National Geographic
Society's expedition. Grosvenor saiC
that he collected data about fiyinI
conditions, meteorology, air currents
and temperatures that had been o
great value in subsequent aerial explo
ration. He subjected the three Nav,
planes to flying tests in the peculia
conditions of high latitude.
His flight over the Pole the mex
year brought into use the sun compass