Geography Instructor Explains Failure to Talk To Byrd by Radio---Calls His Solo Trip Silly

"Yes, we have made some connections with Little America," Thomas S. McCaleb. Instructor in Geographical Exploration remarked as he disentangled himself from a network of dials and wires, "but, as yet, none of our signals have been very distinguishable for the simple reason that the specially constructed equipment which we gave the expedition is now serving as a bridge over a dangerous crevasse."

Further explaining the situation, Mr. McCaleb said. "You see, it's just as if we were talking in an auditorium which had poor acoustics. In an auditorium the speaker's voice is overlapped by its own echo. The same thing happens with our signals, because one set of waves travelling around the world in one direction reaches the pole shoed of the corresponding waves travelling in the opposite direction. This makes their interpretation almost impossible.

"No, I don't think anything will be done about it, at least not until summer dawns at the pole. At present, the expedition is enjoying its six months winter in total darkness, and I daresay none of the men would risk their lives to replace the convenient bridge.

When querted about Admiral Byrd's solitary sally into the frigid wilds. Mr. McCaleb replied. "Personally, I think it is very silly. But of course, it is useless to criticize Admiral Byrd until he has a chance to defend himself. The consensus of opinion among his most intimate friends seems to be that this move was motivated by reasons wholly psychological. If Admiral Byrd's sole reason was to observe human reactions. I would advise him to come back and set up a but on top of Mt. Washington."