Arizona sun., 1948-10-29
ReUieuU, of Byrds
Antarctic Expedition

NSUteO, OF DyT0
Antarctic Expedition
Rain pours, we drive through the
slippery Washington streets to the
navy yard (now the naval gun fac
tory.
The Washington navy yard was
planned by President John Adams
when French aggression made
freedom Of the seas" a menacing
international issue. Work began on
the site in 1800 Here the Wasp"
and the Hornet were built to play
their roles in the War of 1872, here
the Constitution" and the ''Presi-
dent came for overhauling and re-
pairs.
We stop at the sentry box:
"Guests of Admiral Davis" The
marine sentry salutes. We know our
way to the officers club. Hand
shakes and refreshments and into a
bus that takes us to the event of the
evening which the rain prevented US
from witnessing aboard the hul<ing
LIST moored to the dock in the Ana
costa river.
So we must go indoors to see one
of the most thrilling things / ever
saw on the screen. A motion pic
ture made from the actual photo
graphic record of the 1946-47 ex-
ploration of the Antarctic under
Adm. Richard E. Byrd. hope you
saw or will see it-"Secret Land"
It had its premier on Navy Day, in
80 cities. The commercial movie
makers used the official film taken
by navy, marine corps, coast guard
and army cameramen on the scene.
The picturing of disaster, Of
rescue, of tragedy, of suspense,
of achievement, lin most cases
the actual event as it happened)
are something for which / have
. no comparison.
One purpose of the 1916 expedi-
ton which was a follow-up of Byrd's
original 1929 undertaking when he
established Little America" and
explored the great antarctic ice
cap, was to train the navy in polar
operations.
Another aim was to make further
discoveries and release the "un-
known treasures" (Which Byrds
earlier explorations indicated were
there) for the benefit of mankind.
Even the routine operations, the
ships amidst the ice-foes, the land
ing on the ice-cap, the erection of
the tent city and the operation of
the planes, was an inspiring and
thrilling sight, a tremendous trib-
ute to the American skill in me-
chanical achievement, in personal
endurance. bravery, ingenuity. It
will make you proud to be an Amer
lean.
Admiral Byrd didn't look much
older than when we bid him God
speed before he started on his first
Antarctic venture. That was close
to me for I was connected with the
organization that syndicated the
story for the press. But / was
struck with the passage of time,
and the years Of study and research
that have interviewed, when looked
at DR.. Paul Siple, polar authority
and geographer. Gle was present
in the flesh as well as on the
Screen.)
Paul Siple was chosen to 60 on
the 1929 expedition after win
ming in a competition involving
100000 Boy Scouts of America.
Then he was a tall, slender lad
of 20. Now he's stOcky and
graying. AS prominent geog-
rapher he has done important
research for the war depart
ment.
The story of the Antarctic is stud
ded with great names - Scott,
Amundsen. Shackelton. to mention
only three-as well as with sacrifice
and tragedy. This picture of the
Secret Land" less secret now,
shows the tremendous advances in
technology made since the days Of
the early explorers.
1t took thousands of years to shape
the penguins' wings into the fins
which make his survival in a polar
land possible. In a few years in
the laboratories and factories OF
America we have shaped the means
which make survival and explora.
ton possible in the same environ
ment exploration and discovery
which some day may be of tremen.
dous benefit to mankind.
The Russians last month kept
scheduling Red air manellVerS oveI