BYRD EXPEDITION WILL UNCOVER VALUABLE DATA

"Yes, it is true that very little can be known definitely about what Commander Byrd may expect to find at the South Pole", said Professor D. W. Whittlesey in answer to questions put to him by a CRIMSON reporter yesterday.

"However, there are some general fields in which we may find that Byrd has made great advances. For instance, we know almost nothing of the climatic conditions in Antarctica, since previous expeditions have remained there for only short periods. Another field in which we are in almost complete ignorance is the nature of the surface features of the continent.

Only Three Unexplored Regions

"There are only three large regions in the world which are unexplored so far; Antarctica, the Polar Sea region, and portions of the Sahara desert. Of these Antarctica is the largest by far, and it is also the least known."

At this point Professor Whittlesey paused to unroll a large map of the Antarctic continent.

"But," he continued, "Byrd has a large staff of scientists with him, and we may find them returning with a great deal of information concerning the land. And then they may discover a great deal concerning our own continent, which was completely covered by ice approximately 2000 years ago. The ice formation in the Antarctic is as old as the one which previously covered America, and by examination it may reveal much.

"The part which the aeroplane plays in the expedition seems to me to be mainly that of a trail-breaker. General survey, of course, may be accomplished by plane very successfully, but the real exploration will have to be done on the ground."