New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-11
wilkins FINISHES
FIRST EXPLORING
VIII Sail for Home From
Antarctic Regions

Having completed the first phase
of the Wilkins Hearst expeditions
work in the Antarctic. Captain Sir
Hubert Wilkins announces in a radio
message to 1.-The New York Ameri-
can" and associated Hearst news
papers that he will return to Amer
lea and prepare for the second
phase. which will be carried on next
year from a different base.
The announcement was made fol-
lowing a new five-hundred mile
flight made on "Wednesday, during
which Captain Wilkins searched
Graham Land in the hope of finding
q suitable and more southerly base
which would enable him to continue
his explorations farther south
throughout the present season. No
such base could be found.
In making public Captain wilkins
decision. 1.-The New York American"
added the following analysis of the
situation:
The only alternative hope OF
reaching Ross Sea this season lay in
ability to take off on skis with a
load of gasoline sufficient to drive
a plane eighteen hundred miles. Ow-
ing to the unsea sonably warm
weather at Deception Island and
Graham Land. which has softened
the SNOW six weeks before it was eN-
pected to do so, this was obviously
impossible.
But even if the snow and ice had
been normal the discoveries as TO
the terrain of Graham Land made
by Coptain Wilkins precluded the
possibility Of such flight without un-
reasonable risk. II remained only
for Captain Wilkins to return and
make a new start from a new base.
1.-THE expedition had two major
detectives:
First Exploration of Ora ham
Land and the western coast Of We'd
dell Sea by airplane.
Second - \ fight from Graham
Land to Ross Sea and further OK
ploration from a base established
there.
"In flights from Reception Island
over Graham Land Sir Hubert and
his associates have accomplished the
first detectives and thereby solved
the greatest problem that has con-
fronted, scientists and seographers in
the Antarctic.
"Graha Land is pictured on the
maps of the Antarctic continent.
Flying loo miles over land never
before seen by human eyes In COM
pany with Pilot Ben Eielson on De
cember 90, wilkins discovered that
Graham Land consists of two main
islands and that the southernmost is
separated from the Antarctic conti-
nent by body of water 40 to 50
miles wide, lying between the 10th
and 7st parallel south and longi-
tude so and 20 west. This he has
since named Stefansson Strait.
1.-THE northern Island has been re-
named North Graham Island. and
the southern, South Graham Island.
the two being separated by narrow
crooked strait.
ION the 65tl parallel south. or
within 100 miles OF the Antarctic
Circle. Wilkins found the coast of
North Graham Island cut by inden-
tations SO deep that they almost met,
threatening to sever it into still an
other island. These identations he
named the Hettoria Fiords.
"A group of six islands discovered
southeast of South Graham Island
he has named Finley Islands in hon.
or of DR.. II. Finley, president Of the
American Geographical society. |
which sponsored the expedition.
Captain wilkins established what
he believes to be the true edge of
the Antarctic continent on approx
mately the 10th parallel south. This
he has named Hearst Land in honor
OF William Randolph Hearst, by
whom tho expedition was largely