Evening star., 1954-12-08
Earth S Last Unknown
Coils Great Explorer
Ionds Beyond South Pole
chulIenge to Admiral Byrd
BY Thomos z. Henry

Nnoiien9e 10 AoHissui oyFo
BY Thomos z. Henry
There is still an area of the earth's
surface about the size of the United
States no man ever has seen.
This vast region constitutes the
greatest challenge to the coming gen.
GRAFTON of explorers. It Is the land
beyond the pole" as it is described by
Rear Admiral Richard e. Byrd, vet-
eran leader of four Antarctic expedi-
tions.
The term Is somewhat paradoxical.
There can be, of course. no land south
Of the South Pole, the southernmost
point on earth. Admiral Byrd refers
to the great Ice desert between the
Weddell Sea, essentially south Of
Africa, and the bottom of the world.
It is beyond the pole" however, in
the sense that no man has gone far
ther from the direction Of the Ross
Sea south of New Zealand. The Ross,
Sea coast has. been the starting point
Of Scott and sAmundsen, the two ex-
plorers who reached the pole overland,
and Admiral Byrd's own flights.
This is the practical route-prob-
ably the only possible route with
equipment available up to now. Only
Admiral Byrd himself has gone little
farther-not much more than so miles
-on the 1946-47 Navy expedition.
What Lies Beyond?
Beyond may be the vastest mountain
ranges on earth, glaciers greater than
any yet known, perhaps even "oases"
in the ice where some kind of life has
been able to persist. Almost any kind
of speculation is justified. for nobody
knows. The little seen by Admiral
Byrd was just q continuation Of the
undulating ice plateau.
Possibility of going far into this vast
unknown intrigues Admiral Byrd. It
is, Of course, still quite problematical,
even with the most advanced equip
ment available at present. The United
States plans to set up an observing
station at the South Pole during the
International Geophysical. Year Of
1957-58. How this will be occupied and
provisioned still is doubtful. It may
be possible to establish an airstrip on
the ice at the pole from which fairly
long sorties can be made over the un-
known land.
There is even possibility Of a land
expedition from the Weddell Sea. Al
though somewhat longer, this might be
an easier route than from the Ross
Sea. where it is necessary to cross the
formidable Queen Maud Mountains by
way of some glacier to get on the polar
plateau. The obstacles between the
Weddell coasts and the pole are un-
known. There is certainly a mountain
range to be crossed but brief glimpses
from the air indicate that 1t may not
be nearly so formidable as the Queen
MaudS.
A major difficulty is establishing q
shore base which can be kept supplied
by ship. The Weddell Sea is extremely
difficult and treacherous. The attempt
to reach the pole from that direction
ended in disaster when Sir Ernest
Shackleton's ship was crushed in the
ice. A great deal of the Weddell
coast. especially that part at the east
ern base of the Palmer peninsula, still
Is not marked on any map because no
ship has been able to approach it. The
currents pile up the pack ice In this
area to an extent where it is doubtful
If even an icebreaker could negotiate it.
a. Ghallenge to Byrd.
2: But all such difficulties are a squirting
challenge to the worlds foremost liv-
ing explorer to crown his long list
of achievements by mapping the "last
unknown" If they could establish a
shore base on the Coates Land coast
of the Weddell Sea, the admiral told
the officers and men of the icebreaker
Atka as it left Boston on a trail
breaking Antarctic expedition the other
day, their expedition well might rate as
one of the most important explorations
in history.
It was strange to hear Admiral Byrd
say good-by to anybody bound for the
Antarctic while he stayed at home.
There was an unmiStakable note Of
nostalgia in his voice. He told the
sailors frankly of the difficulties they
would meet. with crushing ice packs
and cold which averages so degrees
below the cold Of the Arctic where the
Atka has had most of its previous serv-
ice under both Russian and American
flags.
But he dwelt most on the mystery
and beauty Of their quest and assured
them that he would follow them on one
Of the two later expeditions now
planned.
For the Antarctic is Admiral Byrd's
country. He is homesick for green
skies. mirage cities of marble towers on
far horizons, the southern cross point
ing towards the worlds last mysteries.