The Indianapolis times., 1930-06-20
BYRD HINTS HE
may GO BACK
TO ANTARCTIC
South Pole Hero Praised by
Hoover, Given Medal
for Exploits.
BITTEN BY POLAR BUG
Need of Weather Stations
for ForecaSting Cited
by Explorer.
BH United Press

m bHtted Press
WASHINGTON, June 204Rear
Admiral Richard E. Byrd inti-
mated a desire to return to the
Antarctic continent when he came
here today to receive from Presi-
dent Hoover a special gold medal Of
the National Geographic Society for
his south polar explorations.
Discussing his expedition today
after arrival from New York with
his Antarctic party, Byrd said much
remained to be done in the south
polar area. He suggested it even
tually would be necessary to es-
tablish weather stations there and
perhaps airports to provide an aerial
shortcut between the old word and
the new.
Once you get the Antarctic bug,
1t is hard to get it out of your
system"
Byrd said he has claimed for the
United States vast area lying in
the Ross quadrant east of the Ross
sea beyond a small British claim
known as King Edward VII land.
The west shore of the Ross sea all
is claimed by the British inland
from 200 to 500 miles.
Landed by Hoover
The climax of Byrds daytime
schedule here today was when he
received the congratulations of
President Hoover at the White
House for his achievements.
He arrived at the White House
shortly before noon to receive a
round of cheers from a crowd of
nearly 1000 people which waited
outside the executive mansion when
the cars carrying the explorer and
his party drove up.
Work was suspended in the
executive Offices and clerks gath
cred in the lobby to see Byrd. At
his entrance they applauded loudly,
an unusual occurrence in a place
usually given to solemn conferences
on state matters. Byrd smiled shyly
in acknowledging the greeting.
After a few minutes with Mr..
Hoover, the Byrd party went to the
south grounds Of the White House
where they we're photographed with
the President.
To Visit Bennett Grave
During the afternoon Byrd was
to visit the navy department and
go to Arlington national cemetery
to lay wreaths upon the graves of
Floyd Bennett. his pilot in his
North Pole flight, and Admirals
Peary and Wilkes. Polar explorers.
The admiral was insistant upon
the Importance of further develop
ment of the Antarctic. He rated
geological work among the most
important, explaining there are
minerals of value in the scarcely
explored regions.
Byrd said the real value of the
land discovered is undetermined,
but there is no question it will be
enormous"
Geological exploration revealed
the area once was tropical, he said.
Most valuable accomplishments of
the expedition. in his opinion, were
with regard to weather and the
geological formation.
Important for Forecast
"The region around the pole sup
plies the most important weather
forecasting data we have, he said.
''It might be called the point Of
origin for storms and billiards. The
data the weather man with our ex-
pedition gathered will be invaluable.
The two from the United States
weather bureau kept up their OBJ
servations every night even when
the temperature reached 70 degrees
below zero"
Sooner or later permanent
weather stations must be estab-
lished in the Antarctic if We are to
have accurate forecastings."
Referring to the possibility OF
establishing a regular air route
over the South Pole, the explorer
intimated it is not imminent but
it feasible.
Our radio experimentS~d demon
strated the value of the short wave
for long distance sending" he said.
Hansen, our radio man from the
navy laboratory, use to go out five
miles from camp with the thar-
mometer at go below and make his
observations.
There may be valuable mineral
deposits in the mountain ranges
which We discovered in Marie Byrd
land. Further exploration will have