Evening star., 1934-07-09
Special Dispatch to The Star.


LITTLE AMERICA. Antarctica.
July (Via Mackay Radio) There
is a possibility that Rear Admiral
Richard E. Byrd. now in his fourth
month of isolation at Boiling Ad-
vance Weather Base, l23 miles south
of Little America, will return to the
main base either late In July or
some time in August
A Winter journey by tractor to the
advance base is now under the joint
consideration of Admiral Byrd and
DR.. Thomas c. Poulter. second in
command and senior scientist. The
trip was first suggested here with a
view to transporting an observer to
the advance base to stand meteor
watches in cooperation with the
meteor observatory here for the re-
naming period of darkness and to
make balloon runs for sounding upper
air currents, which would greatly
amplify the meteorological records
Admiral Byrd has been keeping.
In the same stroke it was proposed
to advance a substantial quantity of
material required by the Southern
pal tACo All nlc spring
Meteor Observations.
The meteor observations at Little
America, new department in Ant
arctic research, have been unex-
pectedly fruitful and DR.. Poulter be-
lieves their value will be greatly en-
hanced if the advance base can be
converted to a cooperating meteor
station before the end of darkness.
With two stations observing stimuli
taneously. it will be possible to de-
termine the attitudes at which these
SwarmS of meteoric matter appear
and disappear in their flights through
the earth'S atmosphere and plot their
paths.
A second set of high balloon runs
at the advance base in conjunction
with similar runs made at Little
America, should be highly revealing
in the matter of Antarctic meteorol-
ogy. according to William c. Haines,
meteorologist, and third in command.
The project was presented to Admiral
Byrd by radio a fortnight ago and,
after some consideration, he gave it
his tentative approval. If the project
is successful, it is very likely he will
take advantage of the arrival of the
party to return to Little America.
Winter Night Ending.
The Winter night is departing. and
little by little the feeble light in the
northern horizon gains in strength
each day. With the darkness thin
ming, the most formidable hazard to
navigation of the southern trail is
daily diminishing. Moreover. the
brilliant success of the tractors in
transporting upward of Is tons of
material in connection with establish
ment of the advance base,' together
with the successful trial trip of
tractor l early last week have en-
couraged the belief that the thing
can be done AT any rate, the pos
sibility is being examined by Admiral
Byrd and expedition officers here The
pros and cons are being discussed
during the bi-weekly radio schedules
with the advance base and the equip
ment for the journey is being rapidly
assembled and made ready.
The trial run of tractor ! indicated
among other things that the vehicle
could successfully navigate the south
ern trail by moonlight. Using head
lights and Searchlights, the crew had
no difficulty picking up the flags
marking the trail to the advance
base. These flags are planted at in
tervals of one-siXth of a mile.
H., =
perstureS as low as so degrees below
zero during the Fail Journeys, and
no difficulty was anticipated on that
score With unexpected ease the
vehicle safely traversed the crevassed
area of An.undsen Arm and attained
the high barrier to the south of it
before it turned back for Little
America.
Cabin on Tractor.
Likewise, it was the first test of the
machine with the new superstructure
that converts it into a rolling camp
The structure is nothing more than a
capacious wooden cabin bolted on the
chassis 1t replaces the original can
vas-topped body. Inside the cabin are
two folding hunks. a stove strapped to
the deck and q place for radio set.
Cargo can be slowed in the middle.
The structure was originally designed
for trail use in the Spring.
The Fall Journeys showed that the
machines performed most efficiently
on the trail when in continuous oper-
alton, One driver will be able TO
rest while another takes control and
no time will be lost in camping and
in heating a cold engine after rests.
Moreover. If a blizzard should force
the party to halt along the trail, the
cabin will give the crew sturdier and
warmer protection than can be had
camping out in tent.
Even under the most auspiciouS
conditions. however. the journey will
be a formidable undertaking. There
are dangerous crevasses "a miles south
of Little America and the valley of