The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

Please note * indicates that the photo used important strategic positions, quite Our time is limited tonight, and I can’t is taken from the Sir George Hubert Wilkins unheedful of personal danger. explain to you the real purpose of our work, Papers, SPEC.PA.56.0006, Byrd Polar and When last I met this great Australian it but I think I’d just like to tell you just what Climate Research Center Archival was at a dinner given to General Birdwood we have in mind. For many years Polar Program, Ohio State University by A.I.F. officers in London in July, 1919. explorers and others who have gone into Senator Pearce was in the chair. The menu those out of the way places, have found card of that dinner, which I have, bears the difficulty in explaining even to their autographs of the Prince of Wales, Generals supporters what they wanted to do. They Birdwood, Monash, Ian Hamilton, have gone out for adventure. Rosenthal, Chauvel and Napier, Admiral de But we today can point to some definite Rebeck, John Churchill, Neville Howse, economic advantage as a result of our Padre Dexter, and George H. Wilkins—a explorations. We believe that we can, after truly illustrious group. doing our geographical work, establish If asked why His Majesty honoured him stations in the Antarctic for the with a knighthood, Wilkins’s reply would investigation of meteorological conditions, almost certainly be: “I don’t know, I’m forecast seasonal conditions, so that it will sure, perhaps for flying over a bit of ice!” really enable us to control the price of beef And when he sends a message that he has and clothing and overcoats, and everything done such-and-such a thing somewhere that the average individual requires. down south you can bet your life he has By gaining knowledge of conditions in done it, and a bit more. If a cool customer is the Antarctic we can forecast conditions not wanted for a cool job, Sir Hubert Wilkins is only in the southern hemisphere but in a the right man in the right place. great, measure in the northern hemisphere. Photo of Wilkins during WW1. *OSU Polar Archives Sun (Sydney, NSW), Tuesday 1 January We expect to be able to forecast conditions [wilkins35_9_14]. 1929, page 12. in the northern hemisphere through the efforts of the Aero-Arctic Society in Berlin, 1 January 1929 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 who will next year send out the Graf He Blew In 30371487 Zeppelin which flew over New York City George H. Wilkins not so long ago, to establish stations in the His A.I.F. Days Arctic, some of those stations in the area (By J. R. F.) which we were able to discover from Point George Hubert Wilkins just “blew in” to Barrow to Spitsbergen last year. the Flying Corps Camp at Point Cook one The real purpose of our work this year in day early in 1917 as a brand new lieutenant. the Antarctic was to map the unknown Nobody seemed to know who he was or coast of the Antarctic with the hope of where he had come from. locating a station where we will maintain Quiet, retiring, almost gentle, it was some one of twelve meteorological points of time before his mess-mates learned that he observation, and from those points of had been with Shackleton’s expedition, and observation we expect to gather had travelled extensively. information, not this year or next year Wilkins and I left Melbourne for perhaps, but during the next ten or fifteen “overseas” on May 11, 1917, the ships of One of Wilkins’ WW1 photographs. *OSU Polar Archives years, which will enable us to forecast our convoy being the Shropshire, Ulysses, [wilkins35_9_14]. seasonal conditions with accuracy. Benalla, Port Sydney, Marathon, Clan 4 January 1929 Meteorologists have told me that they can Macgillivray, Tofua, Pakeha, Ascanius, SIR HUBERT WILKINS’S FLIGHT TO assure us of at least fifty per cent increase Turakino and Suffolk. in the value of meteorological forecasting if THE ANTARCTIC. We called at Fremantle, passed closed to we can establish these stations. So you can In view of his experiences, it is especially Mauritius (5/6/1917) and stopped at Durban well understand that we are very anxious to interesting to read Sir Hubert Wilkins’s (June 12, 1917), Capetown (June 21-22), carry out this work. Throughout my whole address as given by him through the and Freetown, Sierra Leone (July 4th), and experience with airplanes it has been National Broadcasting Corporation on arrived at Plymouth on July 19. I do not extremely pleasant to have with me one of March 13th at New York, a few days after recollect which transport Wilkins travelled my best friends and I think the finest pilot his return to America. He outlined the by, though he was always in evidence at the that I could find anywhere in the world. importance of Polar Exploration to ports, on his rounds of exploration. Many I refer to Lieutenant Carl Ben Eielson. civilization and of the geographical work thousands of Diggers will recall that You must realise that those of us who must that had been accomplished. His address voyage, though many others of our lead expeditions and bear the brunt of either was as follows: comrades will never return. the success or failure, depend largely upon “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I our companions for either the success or feel sure that few of you will realise that Stars and a Cross failure. Part of our success is due, I assure those of us who are recently returned from On arrival in England Wilkins was you, to the courage and skill of Lieut. Carl the Antarctic look forward with a great deal transferred from the Flying Corps. No one Ben Eielson. of pleasure to the time when we shall begin seemed very clear as to what his job was This year we’ve also had the expert our next expedition. It’s really hard to except that it was something to do with the service of Orville Porter, our mechanic, and imagine that we should enjoy the excursion photographic section. When next I met him, I am sure that some of you listening in into the extreme Polar Regions, into the he was wearing the stars of a captain and tonight will know Orville Porter, because south where people believe we see nothing the ribbon of the Military Cross. he has attended to machines that have flown but snow and ice. We all realise that Congratulating him, I asked how he won across the Atlantic, and across the United Commander Byrd is going to do wonderful the decoration. “Just taking a few States, and in many other places; and Joe work with his airplanes in the south this photographs!” was his characteristic reply. Crosson, who has been known to the winter and this spring, and we hope to Sometime later I met him, and by then he northern part of the world, at least, as continue our work, also. We expect to do had won a bar to his Military Cross. The Fearless Joe Alaska. And with those three work next year which will bring us in touch reply again was: “More photographs!” men with me, you can well understand that with Commander Byrd, and connect our I have since gleaned, but not from Wilkins, we looked forward to a certain measure of work with his. When we flew south this that he rendered most distinguished service success in the Antarctic this year, and we’re year, we were facing much greater hazards wandering wherever he pleased on the very pleased to return after completing Western Front taking photographs of than we expected to face when we left. 1

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day about fifty per cent of what we’ve set those people who really serve aviation. It plane nearly finished up in a frozen ourselves to do in the past. doesn’t matter how perfect your engine may crevasse. Only Eielson’s skilful piloting be, it doesn’t matter how perfect your saved him and his leader from disaster. airplane may be. We’ve come to know from So far, in spite of the severe conditions of flying in these extreme conditions that we operation, neither plane has given any depend largely upon our fuel and our oil. In trouble; Captain Wilkins, in a message, has our Arctic work during the last few years, expressed great satisfaction at the way and also in our work in the south, we realise Plume motor spirit and Mobiloil have that we depend largely on our engines, and enabled the engines to run. that our engines depend largely on our spirit Recorder (Port Pirie, SA), Tuesday 8 and oil. January 1929, page 3. And I’d like to assure you we received https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9 such excellent service from our spirit and 6059239 oil that we never had a moment’s trouble from our spirit and engines. And that is what has really enabled us to carry out this flight in the Antarctic, which is the real beginning of Antarctic flight. We arrived yesterday morning about 10 o’clock, and it seems to me that I have been talking ever since. I feel sure that you would rather listen to the musical programme than hear me say anything, more but it gives me very great pleasure to be here tonight to tell you what wonderful service we’ve had from our engines, from our Plume spirit, from our Gargoyle Mobiloil and we expect to get the same service when we return to the Antarctic next year. Good night.” Bowen Independent (Qld), Friday 4 January 1929, page 3. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 94361210

8 January 1929 Sir Hubert Wilkins Flying in the Antarctic. An advertisement from the Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW), At the present time, when our summer Sunday 13 January 1929, page 3. sun is always liable to do its worst in the way of making folk uncomfortable, people 14 January 1929 in this country often think quite wistfully of AVIATION. icebergs, snowfields, and other cooling HINKLER HONOURED. Awarded things: and no doubt find it hard to realise International Gold Medal the hardships that Captain Sir Hubert PARIS Jan. 11.— Wilkins and his Antarctic Expedition must The congress of the International be encountering at this moment. These are Aeronautical Federation today awarded Mr. such to test the stoutest heart. Bert Hinkler the gold medal of the As most people know, Captain Wilkins, Federation for the finest aerial exploit in with his small but gallant band, left 1928—his flight from England to Australia. civilisation a few months ago, and Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith; Sir established a base at Deception Island Hubert Wilkins; Senor De la Cierva (the which is on the fringe of the Antarctic An advertisement from the Bowen Independent (Qld), inventor of the auto-grid plane); the French Friday 4 January 1929, page 3. regions. He was taken there by a party of airman M. Costes, who flew around the Norwegian whalers, but from this spot world; and the Italian aviator Signor We expect to leave in September and onwards he will proceed by air. Two special Ferrarin who flew from Italy to Brazil, each return to the Antarctic to complete our Lockheed Vega planes were taken with him received only one vote below Mr. Hinkler flying programme, but that is really only the for that purpose. for the international gold medal. beginning of our work in the south. We Recently a trial flight with these planes must complete our geographical work, and was made—the first Antarctic aeroplane then our job is to try and organise an flight in history. A radio message received International Bureau that will attend to by the Vacuum Oil Company Pty. Ltd., these meteorological matters. We really from Sir Hubert Wilkins, referred to it as believe that the world in the future will having been most satisfactory. The latest come to realise the value of the work were news shows that members of the expedition doing today. I find that in the Antarctic we have now flown as far as Graham Land — are so busy doing our work that we haven’t many hundred miles further south. time to talk, but it seems that when we Several important scientific discoveries come back to civilization we have no time have already been made as the result of this. for anything else but talking. One plane only, piloted by Lieutenant And I’d like to tell you that it wouldn’t be Eielson, was used in this flight. The possible for us to go back with the pleasure difficulties of getting it up under load were that we anticipate, if it were not for the fact very great. A runway over the snow- that we are assured today of expert advice, covered ground, of half a mile long had to not only from our aviation experts, but be laboriously prepared, and even then, the MR. BERT HINKLER. 2

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

[Flying solo a Baby Avro-Avian aeroplane, aviator, La Cierva, the inventor of the The honour and glory of first reaching the equipped with a Cirrus engine, Mr. Bert autogiro, and to Lady Heath in South Pole fell to the heroic Amundsen in Hinkler left Croydon aerodrome at 6.45 commemoration of her achievements in 1911, and we cherish the memory of the o’clock on the morning of February 7 for 1928. gallant Captain Scott’s magnificent Australia. He landed at Darwin about 6 p.m. Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs endeavour of the following year. on February 22, completing the journey Gazette (Qld), Saturday 26 January 1929, Shackleton’s further attempts to the time of from England to Australia in 16 days.] page 7. his death at the gateway of the Antarctic West Australian (Perth, WA), Monday 14 carried the story of far Southern exploration https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 up to 1921. January 1929, page 15. 54060983 The tasks undertaken by Wilkins and https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3 2251427 Byrd are possibly of less romantic appeal, but it has been made clear by the radio 26 January 1929 messages that the perils and hardships are AVIATION HONOURS. gigantic as ever. To battle with the immense frequently unknown and unguessed of AWARDS AT PARIS. forces of nature, all that human ingenuity Australians Prominent can devise is needed. HINKLER. SMITH. WILKINS. Already we have been enabled to glimpse PARIS, Thursday. the value of the discoveries constantly The International Aviation League being made. And thanks to science, the awarded the lady aviators’ trophy to Lady mighty drama enacted in the mysterious Bailey for her flight from London to regions is unfolded scene by scene to an Capetown and back. enthralled world. The aviators’ trophy was awarded to Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Qld), Sunday 10 Colonel Artmo Ferrarin (Italy), who, with February 1929, page 2. Major Delprete, flew from Rome to Port Natal (Brazil) early in July last year. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9 The distance, 4632 miles, was covered in 7688948 51 hours (it will be remembered that Delprete was fatally injured in a crash soon 19 February 1929 after). Ferrarin secured two votes more than WIRELESS & RADIO Squadron Leader Kingsford Smith. (By Alan Burrows) The airship trophy that was not awarded in 1927, was awarded to Major Rosenthal, commander American dirigible Los Angeles. The trophy for 1928 was awarded A cartoon from the Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Qld), Sunday 10 February 1929, page 2. to Dr. Hugo Eekener, commander of the Graf Zeppelin. 10 February 1929

ANTARCTIC EXPLORERS. The interesting, very often thrilling, ANTARCTIC RADIO stories sent by wireless from the Antarctic BYRD’S SHIP LINK IN PHONE CALL. by the Byrd and Wilkins Expeditions bring SIGNALS THAT ESCAPE AT POLES. vividly to mind earlier exploits in the frozen Amongst the research work which is wastes of the great sub-continent. They being carried out by the Antarctic serve also to throw into high relief the expeditions of Commander Byrd and differences in methods and equipment Captain Wilkins, radio is rated as one of the which a quarter of a century’s inventive most important. Commander Byrd’s party, genius has brought about. in particular, is thoroughly equipped for Captain Scott in 1902 had no radio investigation of this nature. apparatus nor aeroplanes, yet that intrepid Radio has also played its part in keeping explorer got 240 miles nearer the South the explorers in touch with civilisation, as Pole than any of his predecessors. Sunday’s messages from the U.S.A. to Byrd Shackleton, whose life story is outlined in have shown. In these long distance another portion of today’s issue, was conversations between Antarctica and the comparatively poorly equipped when he rest of the world several rather dramatic made the celebrated dash in the Nimrod, episodes are on record. which took him, in 1909, within 97 miles of When Captain Wilkins, in a 1200-mile the coveted goal. flight, discovered that Graham Land is separate from the Antarctic Continent, he immediately sent the news, which was of The magnificent view from a Zeppelin. *OSU Polar scientific importance, to newspapers in San Archives [wilkins35_9_14]. Francisco. Friends in New York wirelessed the news of Wilkins’s achievement back to National trophies were awarded as Commander Byrd, who was only about follows:— 2000 miles away from the other explorer. For England: Squadron Leader Bert Radio then played its part in a matter of Hinkler. For Australia: Squadron Leader courtesy. Kingsford Smith. Byrd sent a message back to his New For the United States: Lieutenant Carl York office: “Hearty congratulations on Eielson. your splendid flight. Don’t forget you will Among the recipients of the International find a warm welcome if you fly to our Aviation League’s medals of honour for base.” This was sent by land line from New navigators or passengers participating in York to a newspaper office in San notable flights are Sir Hubert Wilkins, and A photo taken during the Shackleton Antarctic Expedition Francisco, and from there transmitted by Lieutenant C. T. Ulm, second pilot to 1921-22. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins32_12_6]. short wave wireless to Captain Wilkins. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith. Medals Thus, in a jump from the Antarctic to New have also been given to the engineer- 3

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

York of 10,000 miles, another of 3000 With the aid of a little instrument called installed. As the difficulties which at first miles across the American continent, then the osiso, the time taken for signals to be stood in the way of “all-electric” or the remaining 7500 miles back to reflected back to earth can be measured “alternating current” sets gradually grow Antarctica, Wilkins received the message exactly, and it is with one of these that Mr. fewer, so this type of outfit steadily gains in from his companion explorer who, in a P. Hanson, who is in charge of the radio public favour, thus suggesting that in a very direct line, was actually less than 2000 research work of the expedition, hopes to short time it will supersede the battery type miles away. discover if radio echoes have a longer where current is available, so far, at least, as At another time Byrd’s ship formed the duration at the Poles than elsewhere, thus the ordinary broadcast set is concerned. connecting link between his New York going a long way towards confirming or One of the biggest bugbears was the short office and a suburb a few miles out of the disproving the theory that the Heaviside life the valves usually had, due to the city. The receiving set, in order to avoid layer lies closer to the earth at the Poles. fluctuating current from the mains that so interference, is in an outlying suburb, with frequently characterises local supply. Now, the transmitter in the heart of the city. . however, “voltage regulators” are being “Listening in” over the short length of made that keep the current quite steady, telephone line, the man at the transmitting thus throwing no unfair load on to the end found that the receiver had been left off filament of the A.C. valves. There are the hook at a time when it was imperative special types of resistances, fitted so that that he should be in communication with the voltage desired can be taken from them the operator handling the receiving set. without regard to any variations, within So he did that which may have been the reason, that the mains may show. An even obvious thing to men who treat space so better idea, perhaps, is that of valves lightly; and getting his transmitter “on the designed to use a much higher voltage on air,” he sent a message half round the the filament than hitherto has been usual. world, asking the operator on board the Whereas, before, the 240-volt current Eleanor Bolling, Byrd’s base ship, to tell from the mains was transformed down to 2 his companion, by radio, to put his receiver volts to light the filament, many valves now on the hook so he could ring him. require 15 volts, which means that In this way a message went half way round fluctuations in the 240 volt line will show a the world and back, to tell a man a few much lower ratio of alteration by the time it miles away to hang up his telephone reaches the filament, besides allowing the receiver! filaments to be made much sturdier and In the meantime, steady research is being heavier. The purchaser of a set nowadays made into the problems of the radio “blind need not fear the innovation of all-electric spots,” which are known to exist so sets, and they certainly present a relief from An advertisement from the Sun (Sydney, NSW), Tuesday plentifully at the Poles. These regions are 19 February 1929, page 3. the old battery troubles, with equal all- also particularly suitable for research round results. concerning the well-known “Heaviside The osiso is a small, compact instrument layer.” Whether or not earth-born signals which uses films like a pocket camera, and can escape into space at the Poles, as which measures time differences as minute prominent scientists have recently as millionths of seconds. During the entire suggested, may be a question brought a two or three years which the expedition little nearer solution by the work that is now intends to spend in the Antarctic, radio will being done. be one of its most important activities. But, except when those incidents occur which emphasise the wonder of it all, conversations with points 10,000 miles away are regarded as a matter of everyday Antarctic affairs. Radio has found a new use as a destroyer of insect pests. In parts of England it is being used by orchardists as a means of minimising the destruction due to pests, while some American experimenters say that its use also stimulates plant life. A network of wires is strung over the orchard or whatever plants are to be treated, and short wires hang from these and distribute the “force” amongst the trees. Apparatus resembling a spark transmitter, which has recently been condemned for ordinary purposes, supplies the network with the necessary radio energy, and in some cases 600,000 volts are being put into the “aerials.”

DESTROYING INSECT PESTS BY RADIO Experts agree that such a treatment must be useful in warding off insect pests, but whether it can prove itself beneficial in other ways is problematical. As such a system, of course, radiates a tremendous Transmitter at XAF, the American short wave station amount of energy, causing interference in which is often heard in Australia. It was from a station ordinary broadcast receivers, special similar to this (KDKA) that messages to Commander Byrd permission has always to be obtained in An advertisement from the Sun (Sydney, NSW), Tuesday were made. 19 February 1929, page 3. almost any country before it can be 4

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

Sydney. The same evening “The Music in the discovery of a short stretch of Makers” will carry out their duty at 2BL. “mainland” farther southward. Barnsfield’s Graham and Manning, musical entertainers, survey, however, showed that the newly- and Laurel Streeter, popular vocalist, are discovered land was of practically no also on the programme. On Thursday the commercial value, and when the sealers of Capitol Theatre will feature in 2FC’s 1821-27 had departed from it, after killing offerings, with other studio items, while off some 500,000 fur-seal and Harry Graham’s Snapshot Revue will accomplishing a certain amount of provide a lively item from 2BL. exploration, it remained unvisited for many An advertisement from the Sun (Sydney, NSW), Tuesday Sun (Sydney, NSW), Tuesday 19 February years. 19 February 1929, page 3. 1929, page 3. John Biscoe, an English sealer, explored

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 part of the west coast of Graham Land in They should not, of course, he confused 1832, and gave it the name which it now with sets using A and B battery eliminators, 30381800 bears; but apart from his visit and that of which are another story altogether. These Dallmann, a German sealer who followed sets are quite reliable, but they are not him in 1874, exploration in Graham Land electric outfits in the modern sense of the slumbered from 1927 to 1892. term. In 1892-93 four Scottish whalers made an unsuccessful voyage to the northern INCREASE IN LICENCES extremity of Graham Land; and in the same There are now 92, 681 licence-holders in season two Norwegian sealers, Captains N.S.W., which shows an increase, for the Larson and Evensen, extended its known six months ending February, of 12,484. The limits far to the southward. figures suggest that radio is in a fairly Larson, in the German sealer Jason, healthy condition in this State. Victoria now reached 69 deg. 10 points S. on the eastern has 141,279 licensees, an increase over the side of the peninsula, and was incidentally same period of 3521. South Australia, with the second steamship captain (Nares, 22,420, shows a gain of 2101. Queensland H.M.S. Challenger 1874, being the first) to lost 520, and now has 24,761 licensed cross the Antarctic Circle. He sighted a listeners. Tasmania increased by 1032, and stretch of high land, fronted by an ice now has a total of 4204, while West barrier, extending from lat. 67 deg. to 68 Australia gained 54, leaving 3820. deg. S., and named it the “Foyn Coast.” Altogether, the Commonwealth, for the Until Sir Hubert Wilkins’s recent flight six months in question, made a net gain of Larson’s discovery of the Foyn Coast has 10,718 listeners, and now has 289,165 remained the only accepted report of land licensed listeners on the books. In spite of on the eastern side of the Graham Land the good showing made by N.S.W., she still peninsula extending beyond the Antarctic has some distance to go before overtaking Circle. Victoria. In that State the percentage of It seems probable, however, that at least a listeners of the total population is 8.08; in glimpse of the coast line there, and a little N.S.W. it is 3.83. South Australia has a further southward, was caught by the percentage of 3.88, Queensland 2.08, American sealer Morrell in 1823. Larson’s Tasmania 2, West Australia .90 and the work was checked by the Nordenskjold

Commonwealth 4.0. One aspect that these Expedition of 1902-3, but while this figures emphasise is that “saturation point” A photo from Antarctic Expedition in 1928-30. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins33_4_31]. exposed certain errors in his longtitudes and is still a very long way off. In accordance his estimates of distance, it did not succeed with the provisions of the International 16 February 1929 in reaching his “Foyn Coast.” Conference held last year at Washington, NEW ANTARCTIC LANDS. The work of the Belgica, of 2FC has altered the length of its short-wave The Discoveries of Sir G. H. Wilkins. Nordenskjold’s expedition and of Charcot’s transmissions. The old lengths of 28.5 and By his aerial survey of Graham Land Sir two expeditions (1904-5 and 1909-10) on 31.5 metres have been cancelled, and a new Hubert Wilkins has initiated a new epoch in the northern and western sides of Graham one allotted of 31.28. Many other short- Antarctic exploration, states the naval Land showed that there was, apparently, wave stations have also been changed. correspondent of the Times. continuous land as far south as lat. 69 deg.; The N.S.W. Broadcasting Co. is inviting For two reasons his achievement is of and since the drifts of the Deutschland applications for volunteers to describe outstanding importance. He has solved one (1912) and Endurance (1915) postulated Sydney from the end of a rope of a crane on of the two great problems of Antarctic the existence of considerable land masses one of the tallest buildings available. With exploration, and he has performed, in a few on the western side of the Weddell Sea, it the necessary power of description, it is hours, an amount of work which, in the was apparent that there was ground for thought that the successful applicant could days before he demonstrated the enormous supposing that the Graham Land peninsula give rather a thrilling account of his advantage of aerial transport in Polar formed part of the Antarctic Continent, and adventure. Applications should be exploration, would have taken at least two that it constituted, in effect, a link in a great addressed to the Stunt Manager, N.S.W. Antarctic summers. mountain chain, whose all-but-submerged Broadcasting Co., and if more than 1000 Graham Land, to employ the loose summits (the Shag Rocks, South Georgia, apply, the winner will be drawn. generic title given to the projecting tongue the S. Sandwich Islands, and the S. M. A. Noble will speak on cricket from of land lying between (approximately) lat. Orkneys) formed a hairpin loop, continuing 2FC at 7.48 this evening. Afterwards, with 63 deg. and 69 deg. S., and between long. through Graham Land and towards the studio items, the Metropolitan Band will 58 deg. and 67 deg. W., is probably the South Pole, ultimately joining the “Queen oblige, whilst R. D. Maunsell and Gwen best, and certainly the earliest, known Maud’s range” seen by Amundsen in 1911 Sherwood will give a sketch, “One portion of the Antarctic regions. during his Polar journey. Christmas Eve.” A concert arranged by The South Shetland Islands, which lie This supposition, however, was in, flat Oliver King will be broadcast from the some 80 miles north-westward of its contradiction to the view (advanced by, the Rose Bay Music Club by 2BL tonight. northern extremity were discovered, almost late Sir G. H. Darwin in 1907, and based Harold Whittle has arranged a classical accidentally, by an English merchant upon the tidal differences observed in the programme for 2FC on Wednesday skipper, William Smith, in February, 1819. Ross and Weddell Seas) that an arm of the evening, set down for 8 o’clock and 9.15, Further exploration of the vicinity by sea divided E. Antarctica from W. after which J. G. Lockley will talk on Old Edward Barnsfield, master, R.N., resulted Antarctica. 5

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In consequence, two geographical 1 March 1929 problems arose to await the test of further Sir George Wilkins exploration. Incidentally, a question of Further Ambitions territorial ownership also awaited Submarine or Zeppelin? settlement; for if Graham Land were Lima (Peru), Feb. 27. actually part of the Antarctic Continent, the Sir George Hubert Wilkins, the honour of first sighting and charting any Australian explorer, arrived here today from part of this territory would fall to an the Antarctic on the way to New York. Englishman, Bransfield. With other members of the expedition, he Sir Hubert Wilkins’s great flight (the first was on board the steamship Ebre. ever made in the Antarctic) has definitely In an interview Sir George Wilkins answered one of these questions. Graham indicated that he had plans for Arctic Land, we now know, is not part of the exploration during this summer in a Antarctic continent; it is separated from it submarine. by the wide Stefansson Strait, and the Possibly he might make a North Polar (presumed) portion of the continent farther trip with the Graf Zeppelin before he southward shows no signs of a mountain returned to Antarctica, in September. range, but is of a gently-sloping type. He also said that he had planned the The continuous chain theory must establishment of meteorological stations on therefore be held to have received a the South Polar continent with a programme setback, while some slight weight is added for ten years. The weather would be to Darwin’s theory of an ice-filled strait forecast for all the nations in the Southern connecting the Ross and Weddell seas — Hemisphere. An advertisement from the West Wyalong Advocate uniting, in other words the Ross, and Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Friday 1 March Luitpold ice barriers. (NSW), Friday 1 March 1929, page 12. 1929, page 7. Furthermore, the honour, of having first 1 March 1929 sighted the Antarctic continent passes from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3 Bransfield to Captain J. S. C. Dumont 993155 Australia d’Urville, of the French corvette Astrolabe, Sir Hubert Wilkins’s Book who sighted Adelie Land, which is 1 March 1929 The New York Times, reviewing a newly unquestionably part of the Anarctic SIR G. H. WILKINS. published volume by Sir Hubert Wilkins, continent, on 20th January, 1840, a date Arctic Exploration. “Undiscovered Australia” in which he which he logged as 19th January, not SUBMARINE OR GRAF ZEPPELIN. depicts conditions outback, says: — having altered his calendar when crossing LIMA (Peru), Wednesday. — “The book is likely to arouse indignation the meridian of 180, and proceeding Captain Sir G. H. Wilkins passed through in Australia, for the people in that far land, westward. here today, en route for New York, aboard are intensely sensitive, and the author does By a curious coincidence, he only the steamship Ebre. Interviewed, he not spare plain-spoken criticism of the narrowly anticipated an American explorer indicated that he had planned for an Arctic conditions and spirit he found on stations Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, U.S.N., who expedition this summer in a submarine, or which he visited. sighted Adelie Land a few days later. possibly he would make the Arctic trip in He found the settlers living under Wilkes claimed, indeed, to have sighted the Graf Zeppelin before returning to the wretched conditions, although they could land, eastward of Adelie Land, some days Antarctic in September. afford much better, because they did not before d’Urville, but this “land” was sailed He also intimated that he had planned the intend to stay on the land longer than the over by Tapsell (1850) and Scott (1904), establishment of meteorological stations in few years necessary to secure a small and there is no doubt that is has no real the South Polar Continent, with a 10 years’ competence, when they would retire from existence. programme of weather forecasting for all productive life to live a life of leisure in a Apart from their very great geographical nations in the Southern Hemisphere. cheap and bare suburban home. There are importance, Sir Hubert Wilkins’s so many of these that they form,” he says “a discoveries constitute a most impressive leisured class without high culture and demonstration of the fact that the future of without desires or inclination that foster the Polar exploration lies in the air. development of art or learning.” During a flight of some ten hours’ In the meantime, he thinks it deplorable duration he has covered vastly more ground that Australia is not being developed in than any of his predecessors in the Graham material ways, notwithstanding all her rich Land region; and, in all probability, he has resources. mapped his results with no less accuracy. Neither are the standards of life and He reached “Evans’s Inlet” (Nordenskjold’s culture being raised. “Richthofen Valley,” lat. 66 deg. S.) in less West Wyalong Advocate (NSW), Friday 1 than two hours from his base at Deception March 1929, page 12. Island. Nordenskjold, advancing on foot https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 from a base 50 miles nearer, took a 88322139 fortnight to accomplish the same distance and could get no further, while Wilkins, 2 March 1929 three hours later, was in lat. 71 deg. S.— AUSTRALIANS IN THE MIRROR. 300 miles to the southward. As Seen by Sir Hubert Wilkins. Even should he make no further flights he Had an outsider penned the caustic can look back upon a very great Capt. Wilkins criticism of Australians that appears in Sir achievement—a pioneer flight which has Hubert Wilkins’s recently published Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs set a completely new standard for future “Undiscovered Australia,” indignation exploration of the Antarctic. Gazette (Qld), Friday 1 March 1929, page would have been expressed from one end of Age (Melbourne, Vic.), Saturday 16 7. the country to the other. February 1929, page 28. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 But Sir Hubert is Australian-born of an https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 54065672 Australian-born father, and may, therefore, 04228223 with greater impunity, hold up the mirror to us and record some of the reflections he sees. 6

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

then the ‘boots’ at the hotel, the railway Leisured Class without Culture. porter, the Government clerk, or the train “One of the most disappointing things to conductor will treat one with insulting me as an Australian was to find that so disrespect.” many able-bodied men retired from productive work with only just enough money for a bare existence. They form a leisured class without high culture and without the desires or inclinations that foster the development of art or learning; a class that, while physically comfortable, have no desire for more than the material and are interested only in the everyday concerns of life. It is a grand country which can enable men to earn enough in a few years work to keep them in creature comforts for the rest of their lives, but by ceasing to interest themselves in the development of their An aerial photograph of Darwin in the 1920’s. From A photo from Southebys.com of the book and cover. country and considering only their own pinterest.com.website. indifferent material needs, the Australians An Unappreciated Invitation are not serving their country as well as they Questioning an attendant as to what he His observations are based on his 1923– could.” would do if he was a stranger in a strange 25 expedition to tropical Australia—he did land, and was similarly ignored, Sir Hubert not touch the North-West—to collect fauna Fleshpots of the City receives the reply “Do the job myself.” for the British Museum. The wretched In another passage he speaks of a well- whereupon he delivers himself of the conditions under which settlers on the appointed and well-furnished station, a following:—“That is the crux of the whole outback stations live and the spirit model of what should be, but what question. Independence! These pseudo- prevailing amongst them roused his ire generally is not found to be, the condition democrats of this sunny land of ours have most of all. on outback stations. not yet realised the fact that it is Having been invited to a homestead, he Then he pursues the theme in this strain : interdependence, not independence that found that it consisted of a lean-to shanty of “Many station owners who live in affluence matters in high states of civilisation. three rooms—one room serving as dining in the city expect their managers to put up No one can afford to be independent as room and kitchen, one as a bedroom, while with any sort of a house, and many resident are the savages. The obtrusive insularity of on a stretcher in the third room straddled station owners expect their wives to exist the cultured but un-travelled Englishman is heaps of old harness and chaff bags. In the without any degree of comfort and as nothing to the aggressive independence latter room he was pressed to pass the night, convenience. of the ignorant Australian.” but having his own blankets and preferring In the pioneering days this might have to sleep out of doors, he made the excuse been necessary, and it is still necessary in No Pride in Homesteads that it was a shame to give trouble. “Oh. many places, but the disappointing thing is Thence a short step brings him back to Lor, t’aint no trouble,” said the housewife. that where it is unnecessary, there is no the original theme of homestead conditions. “Why, I put clean clothes on the bed on desire for improvement. “As with Australia’s lesser public servants Sunday, and we have only had the mailman Many instances came to my notice where so with her primary producers: it is every and my old man’s two nieces sleep in it men with a considerable amount of money man for himself. since then.” (It was then Friday.) would spend freely in the city, irrespective During the short period they spend on the “Apparently,” says Sir Hubert, “such of the value returned, but would not spend a farm or station it is the general desire to open-hearted hospitality as one finds in the penny for improvements in the country. make just enough to leave the farm and the backblocks is only possible through such an “Anything is good enough out here,” they country and live a retired life in a garden economical use of material as was would say. “I’ve had to put up with worse suburb, to ‘entertain’ a servant and take suggested.” and this will do for me until I clear out of their exercise in a cheap American motor this place.” car or by visiting various racecourses. Wretched Houses “Near Enough.” If such conditions were the exception In most cases there is no pride in holdings Then he launches boldly on his criticism: perhaps there would be no need for or in homesteads. The ‘near enough’, ‘it’ll “In many of the districts visited we found comment, but they existed in the great do for me’ slogan has been so thoroughly the living conditions, even in places where majority of cases and compared very ingrained into the people during their much better could have been afforded, to be unfavourably with other countries, where temporary sojourn in the country that they of the lowest type, apparently from choice. primary producers take pride in their cannot overcome it when in retirement. There are, of course, some magnificent holdings and in the progress of their Of course, I could equally well mention homes on some of the Australian stations, country. the few conspicuous cases of an entirely but these are few and far between. It is easy for one to proclaim the value opposite character where men are using up- The Australian settler generally expects and wonders of a country, but it should not to-date methods, and, by taking a pride in his sojourn in the country to be temporary. be forgotten in one’s opulence that their work and their country, are really Many of them, when asked why they had something is due in return to the country forming the backbone of Australia; but the not built a decent home, would say. What’s which has made that opulence possible.” unequal ratio that is so obvious is rather the use? disappointing to one who, though having We’ll have made enough money in a few Interdependence, not Independence travelled outside his native land, still has years to go and live in the city, so why In Darwin Sir Hubert records having great pride in his country and is zealous for worry about a fine home out here? To judge found conspicuously exemplified that its progress and its attractiveness to visitors. from the number of very middle-class which he describes as most typical of the There is no doubt that it is bound to houses which these retired farmers and habits of the Australian junior public progress, for its possibilities are as great as, settlers own in the ever-expanding suburbs servants. if not greater than, those of any other of the cities, they have lived so long in the “If one is known by sight or reputation to country. But this will not happen of its own wretched homes which are ‘near enough’ in be an important personage,” he says, “then accord; the Australians must themselves co- the country that they have no desire for the way is made astonishingly easy and operate to build up their country.” anything much better when they retire from pleasant, but if one is suspected of being a active life. foreigner or even an ordinary Englishman, 7

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

3 April 1929 On September 2 smoke signals from a CHEATED DEATH fire made by the airmen were seen by THREE URUGUAYAN AIRMEN officials of an observatory on the coast of MISSING FOR DAYS Greenland, and a boat was sent to rescue ‘PLANE BURNED ON LONG FLIGHT them. Hassell and Cramer had landed on the (Sun Special) coast of Greenland, far from human BOGOTA (Colombia), Tuesday. habitation, and, after waiting for several After they had been missing for three days, subsisting on emergency rations, they days, three Uruguayan aviators arrived here started out on a long and arduous trek over today, having cheated death by the snow and ice. narrowest of margins. They started from Montevideo on March 15 in an attempt to Hinkler, Too fly to Washington, and had been lost since Our own Bert Hinkler was missing for passing Guayaquil (Ecuador) on Sunday. two days after setting out from Croydon They struggled into Bogota today with a (England) to make a non-stop flight to thrilling tale of the escape from their India. Impossible weather forced him down burning plane. Two of them escaped unhurt, in Poland, his ’plane being damaged in an while the third, Dagoberto Moll, was attempt to take off again, and some time injured, and will remain in hospital for three elapsed before news that he was safe weeks. reached the anxious world. Not the least thrilling chapters in the Sun (Sydney, NSW), Wednesday 3 April great story of aviation are those in which 1929, page 1. are told the exploits of men who had been https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 given up as lost after being missing for 22703017 many days. In several cases the silence that has enveloped them has seemed complete and final, but the pioneers of the air are not easily beaten, and dire circumstance, hardship, and danger have been conquered time and again. One of the great epics of Poorest Rich in the World Polar exploration, and of aviation too, is the Carrying his criticism into a still wider Arctic flight of Captain Roald Amundsen in field Sir Hubert says—“Most Australians 1925. Two specially-constructed flying are well off in regard to creature comforts boats, with six men under the command of and many of them soon reach independent Amundsen, set out from Spitsbergen on means. May 21 of that year to fly over the North Yet the absence of the expressed desire Pole to Alaska. The planes descended on a for culture and for higher things and their spot 100 yards from the Pole, and were contentedness with the mediocre make immediately frozen in. As anxious days them perhaps the poorest rich people in the followed one another without any sign that world today.” he was alive conning from the intrepid West Australian (Perth, WA), Saturday 2 explorer—he carried no wireless—the March 1929, page 4. worst was feared, and men who had had https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3 much experience in the Arctic predicted An advertisement from the Sun (Sydney, NSW), 2262737 that he had only a hundred to one chance of Wednesday 3 April 1929, page 1.

coming out alive. Wilkins Disappears One month after he had taken off from Spitsbergen Amundsen and his party returned on foot to Spitsbergen. Man had conquered again. Sir G. H. Wilkins, too, lived to make an Antarctic flight after grave fears had been entertained for his safety on a flight made from Fairbanks (Alaska) in 1926, with Lieutenant Carl Eielson. For over a fortnight nothing was heard from the airmen, despite the fact that they carried wireless. Then out of the silence came a A print/screen photo from historical film footage of preparing the ’The Nautilus’ for it’s under the ice voyage. message that they were well, and some

hours later they flew to the base at Pt. Barrow. Failure of his wireless equipment 4 April 1929 had been responsible for Wilkins’s silence, Polar Exploration and continued fog and snowstorms had Arctic Submarine Voyage prevented him from flying. He also had to Sir Hubert Wilkins’s Plan contend with a split propeller. Australian Press Association. Two American airmen, Bert Hassell and New York, April 3. Parker Cramer, were also lost for over a Sir Hubert Wilkins’s plan for an Arctic week, after they had taken off from submarine voyage has been virtually Cochrane (Ontario) on a flight to completed, following a conference between Stockholm, via Greenland. They were last Mr. George Putnam, the noted publisher, heard over Labrador, and then again and Commander Sloan Dannenhower, who An advertisement from the Sun (Sydney, NSW), silence. Continued search on land and sea is part owner of the only submarine in Wednesday 3 April 1929, page 1. was of no avail, and the aviators were given private hands. up for dead.

8

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

ANTARCTIC PREPARATIONS. 10 May 1929 LONDON, Sunday.— AUSTRALIAN EXPLORERS. Sir George H. Wilkins, who is proceeding WILKINS AND MAWSON. to London from New York, in an interview HONORED IN LONDON. with the Australian Press Association, said Wilkins Appeals for Funds. he is at present marking time until LONDON, 8th May. September, when he returns to the Antarctic Sir Hubert Wilkins, the Australian to pick up his equipment at Deception explorer, recently returned from the Island. Antarctic, was entertained at lunch at the In the meantime his immediate purpose is Savoy today by three Australians—Messrs. to visit France, Norway, and Germany. He W. S. Robinson, Clive Baillieu and R. G. proposes to see Captain Burns and Casey. Those present, in addition in the Professor Benson, of Berlin, both members hosts, were Sir H. Batterbee, Assistant of the Aero Arctic Society, which exists for Secretary at the Dominions Office, and the establishment of meteorological stations Messrs. W. L. Baillieu and J. M. Niall, within the Arctic Circle. They aim to send a replying to the toast of his health Sir Hubert new Zeppelin on an Arctic tour in the Wilkins said he had been in an summer of 1920. embarrassing position. Discussing his own plans, Sir George Practically the whole of his machines, Wilkins said: “It must be recognised that money and personnel had been provided by the present work is of a preliminary America. Whether he would be able to character for the task I have set myself, and complete his work in the Antarctic next involves 10 to 15 years’ labour. year in the interests of science and the After the completion of my geographical British Empire depended on the support he An advertisement from the Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), work this year, and making one more trip to received from the Empire. Great Britain and Thursday 4 April 1929, page 2. the Arctic I will be able to proceed with my Australia had provided only a 100th part of real plans. his expenses. Commander Dannenhower said that the My ambition is the establishment of a His present plans were to go to Deception financial arrangements were nearly chain of observation stations, so that with Island in September, and then fly south. He completed, and he was awaiting word from such a chain in the Antarctic, within a would land on the continent, and continue Sir Hubert Wilkins to prepare the vessel for decade it should be possible to forecast the the flight over Ross Sea, covering up to the trip. New engines and batteries would weather and seasons, early or late wet or December probably a further 2000 miles of have to be installed, but that could be done dry. It has long been my theory that the coastline. Emphasising the value of the by July. Antarctic ice affects the weather of Antarctic to the Empire, Sir Hubert Wilkins The submarine will be manned by 10 Australia, Africa, and the Argentine. This is said leading meteorologists in Great Britain men, with Dannenhower in command. He supported by the United States and Norway agreed that if meteorological stated that on the 2,000 miles trip from Meteorological Society, which is now stations were established in the Antarctic it Point Barrow to Spitsbergen part of the proposing the control of the weather by would be possible to increase the accuracy time would be spent beneath the redistributing free icebergs in the Antarctic, of weather forecasts in the southern ice. by towing them from one place to another, hemisphere by from 15 per cent to 50 per The trip would take about 30 days. Sir and thereby promoting rainfall in desired cent, and enable meteorologists to foretell Hubert Wilkins has left for the Pacific areas. whether the season would be early or late, coast, presumably to discuss financial A tremendous amount of labour is or droughty. arrangements. required, together with close study of the A beginning should be made in 1930 to Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), Thursday 4 distribution of air currents.” Sir George will put men on the ice south of New Zealand April 1929, page 2. leave New York in September, to join the and Cape Horn to transmit by wireless https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 Norwegian whalers at Montevideo, for the much valuable information. Already the 79787242 trip southwards, and will reach headquarters Argentine and Chile had promised co- in November. operation. Personally he hoped Australia 7 May 1929 He expects to make his flight between and South Africa would help in a joint plan, ICEBERGS AND WEATHER. December 15 and 20, when best conditions he hoped between 15th and 25th December will prevail. There will be two aeroplanes, A CHAIN OF STATIONS. to fly from Weddell Sea and land at Byrd’s and the party will again include Lieut. base on Ross Sea. Captain Stefansson, the Sir G. H. Wilkins’s Theory. Eielson. Canadian explorer, paid tribute to Sir It is proposed to explore 2500 miles of Hubert Wilkins’s fearlessness and coast between Graham Land and the Ross adaptability, and said it would be an Sea. Prior to the setting out of the flight the admirable speculation for the British party will map in details of the country Empire to fit him out completely for the discovered last year, consisting of 1200 completion of his Antarctic task. miles of coastline, 20 islands, one strait, and (A series of articles written by Sir Hubert two channels. Wilkins describing his recent work and Sir George points out that he was discoveries in the Antarctic commenced in working 2500 miles distant from Byrd’s The Age yesterday.) party, but that his next flight will bring him to Byrd’s headquarters, thus joining up in DINNER TO SIR D. MAWSON. the work. A Notable Gathering. Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Fifty men who have taken part in Gazette (Qld), Tuesday 7 May 1929, pge. 7. Antarctic expeditions dined with Sir https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 Douglas Mawson at the Cafe Royal tonight 4068189 on the eve of his departure for Australia. Engineer Vice-Admiral Skelton (who superintended the building of the Discovery for the national Antarctic expedition in 1900, and served in that expedition under Captain Scott) presided. Captain Wilkins 9

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

The guests represented thirteen Mount Napier Birks, after an Australian view because it shows that the Graham expeditions, commencing from 1899, and who years ago placed funds at my disposal Land group of islands are an intrusion included Sir Hubert Wilkins, Captain J. K. for Geographical work in the Antarctic. which rises between the South American Davis and Mr. H. G. Ponting, who was a The North end of South Graham Land continent and Antarctica. member of Captain Scott’s last Antarctic widened, and its easterly point we called This information will bring much expedition (1910-13). Cape Northrop, after the engineer who evidence to bear on the theory of designed the famous Lockheed plane. The distribution of continental areas and the mountains behind the cape we called continuity of volcanic belts. It is important Lockheed Mountains. from a biological point of view because Shortly afterwards we discovered that much evidence was assumed when mosses, even South Graham Land was an island. It lichens, tufts of grass and insects were ended abruptly in a steep mass of found on Graham Land, which was then mountains which possible for me to supposed to be part of the continent. All organise the expedition this year. these specimens will now have to be re- The channel between the mountains and classified. the next island, called Scripps Island, after It is important from a geophysical point Mr. William Scripps, of Detroit, was named of view because it brings much light to bear Casey Channel. Beyond Scripps Island was on the theory of tidal movement and the another channel which we gave the name of distribution of ocean currents, which in Lurabee Channel in honour of Lurabee their turn influence meteorological Shreck who has given me much help in my conditions. A crowd looking at a Zeppelin in its hangar. *OSU Polar polar work. It also upholds an assumption that the Archives [zeppelin-4]. South of the channel there is a group of Antarctic Continent, like all other known islands which we decided to call Finley continents, has one low side. It was on that WILKINS RETURNS TO U.S.A. IN Islands, in honour of Dr. Finley, president assumption that I made bold to state, eight GRAF ZEPPELIN. NEW YORK, 9th of the American Geographical Society of years ago, my plans for flying over the area May. New York. between Graham Land and the Ross Sea A Berlin message to the New York Then we came to the most important believing that along that coast—which is American states that Sir Hubert Wilkins discovery we had made. A wide level strait still unknown—we would find low land, will be a passenger in the Graf Zeppelin parted the group of islands from an and consequently not more than ordinary when she comes to the United States next extensive snow slope which we believe to winds and normal weather. In such week. He will write an account of the flight be the Antarctic mainland. We named this conditions it would be safe to use for that paper. Stefansson Strait. It would have been aeroplanes. Age (Melbourne, Vic.), Friday 10 May difficult to distinguish between the ice in Our recent discovery is important from a 1929, page 9. the strait and the mainland had it not been political point of view, because it shows https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 for a low ice cliff which apparently was that the British were not the first to see the 05028809 caused by the rise and fall of the tide. actual Antarctic Continent, and it will We had no means of telling the thickness probably mean a rearrangement of of the ice either in the strait or on the land. territorial rights. The cliff we judged to be not more than Our flight cannot fail to interest 10[?]ft. to 15ft. high. The sun shone directly historians, because it was undoubtedly the on it and from our height it was not possible first flight on which absolutely new to show it clearly on a photograph. territory has been discovered, and that on Southward and beyond the ice foot the the first flight ever made within the snowy surface rose gradually until it was Antarctic Circle. lost in the pearl grey, hazy sky. We named this new section of the continent Hearst Ownership of New Territory Land. To which country and to whom does the Looking into this vast unbroken expanse pride of these discoveries belong? we could see no more than one can see with We might well have claimed the new eyes tightly closed and facing a strong territory for the United States, England, incandescent light. We could sense an Australia or Norway, whose people have opaque greyness lightly tinged with red, but materially assisted us and every other not a speck of anything cast a shadow or expedition without exception visiting the relieved the surface. Antarctic the last few years. Wilkins and friend relaxing on board the Zeppelin. *OSU Old Theory Exploded But it would have been presumptuous on Polar Archives [wilkins33_6_66]. We had left the mountains far behind and our part and meaningless to claim it for know by doing so that we had made a new anyone. If it is agreed that we can 10 May 1929 discovery. It was not merely the extension effectively claim country discovered from My Antarctic Flight [?] of an area already discovered, as had an aeroplane it would lead to many Explorer’s Own Stories been [our] mapping of the new coast of complications. Importance of Discoveries Graham Land and the Weddell Sea. We had Could one claim all the country seen (By Captain Sir Hubert Wilkins, not only made a discovery which had together with all the area we might commander of the Wilkins-Hearst Antarctic broken down a century old belief, but we reasonably assume to lie between that part Expedition. had gone beyond that and discovered seen and the next known area? If it were Copyright, 1929, New York American, something separate and new. agreed that we could claim only country Inc., and Universal Service, Inc. rights We do not know as yet just how mapped, what degree of accuracy would he reserved. Reproduction, in whole or in part, important that discovery may be. It is needed in the mapping? prohibited.) important from a geographical point of Would it be necessary to alight on the II. view because it chops about 40,000 square country and for how long, and then would “Looking southward we could see that miles off the supposed Antarctic continent our claim cover only the country seen from Graham Land at the altitude became more and places more than 20 new islands, these the ground or from what height? And if and more broken. Soon it was evident that new channels, one strait, many bays, slopes once having set foot on the ground for a an ice-filled channel cut Graham Land in of mountains, and more than a thousand few hours or days, does that mean absolute halves. A conspicuous mountain near the miles of new coastline on the map. It is right of possession. end of North Graham Land we called important from a geographical point of 10

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

No, it is not for the modem scientific Great Britain and Australia had so far Mawson at the Cafe Royal on the eve of his explorer to seize upon and claim things at provided only a one-hundredth part of his departure to Australia. Engineer Vice- sight. It is our privilege to gather expenses. His present plans were to go to Admiral Skelton, who served as chief information which in these days of world Deception Island in September, fly engineer on the Discovery under Captain conferences, international associations and southwards land on the continent, and Scott, presided. the League of Nations can be digested and continue his flight over the Ross Sea, The guests represented 13 expeditions, acted upon for the benefit of the greatest covering in December probably 2,000 more commencing from 1899, and they included number. In the distance we could see cloud miles of coastline. Captain Sir Hubert Wilkins, Captain Davis, areas developing and again in high Emphasising the value of the Antarctic to who will take part in Sir Douglas Mawson’s latitudes, and from high altitudes I had the the Empire Sir Hubert Wilkins said that expedition, and Mr. H. G. Ponting who was opportunity, as I had on our Arctic flight, of leading meteorologists in Great Britain and photographic officer to Captain Scott’s last judging distant meteorological conditions Norway agreed that if meteorological South Pole expedition. and proving that from an altitude of 8,000 stations were established m the Antarctic it feet I could, from the observation of cloud would be possible to increase the accuracy Mawson Expedition intensity and formation, interpret the of weather forecasts in the Southern Itinerary Not Yet Fixed weather 300 miles away. Hemisphere from 15 per cent to 50 per cent. Canberra, Thursday. — This may be due to the clearness of the It would enable meteorologists to foretell Discussing the starting point of the intervening atmosphere in the Polar whether a season would be early or late or Australian expedition to the Antarctic in Regions, but partly no doubt to the drought. November the Prime Minister (Mr. Bruce) flattening of the earth at its poles. In the A beginning should be made in 1930 to said today that there appeared to be a Arctic it might have been that my put men on the ice south of New Zealand certain misapprehension concerning the interpretations were a lucky guess, but our and Cape Horn, and enable them to transmit route which Sir Douglas Mawson would forecasts this year also proved correct. by wireless invaluable information. Already follow. This demonstrates an important possibility the Argentine and Chile had promised The itinerary had not yet been settled for aviators flying in high latitudes. cooperation, and personally we hoped that although the matter had been tentatively With knowledge of meteorology they will Australia and South Africa would help in a discussed with Sir Douglas Mawson. It be able, if they choose, to avoid getting into joint plan. was at present impossible to say whether difficulties with the weather. What were our He hoped between December 15 and the discovery would make Cape Town its feelings after such a journey? Were we December 25 to fly from the Weddell Sea point of departure for the Antarctic at which thrilled with the knowledge of success? For and land at Commander Byrd’s base in the port it would necessarily call on its way out, my part, I was sadly disappointed. We had Ross Sea. Sir Hubert amused his audience or whether it would first come to Australia. passed through the gamut of human by mentioning the fact that when making a In order to obtain the most valuable experiences. Now I am anxiously looking broadcast address in New York recently he scientific results the route to be followed forward to another opportunity, which we said that he hoped that he would eat his would require to be very carefully worked hope will come next December, to prove next Christmas dinner in Commander out, and it would be premature to attempt to the sincerity of our purpose and to peep Byrd’s camp. Commander Byrd’s heard the do this until Sir Douglas Mawson returned again into Antarctic mysteries. broadcast and sent by wireless the to Australia next month. Our machines await us at Deception following message from the Antarctic, Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), Friday 10 May Island. Nearly two thousand miles of coast “Keeping you a penguin’s leg.” 1929, page 70. in a beeline waits to be discovered. With Mr. Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the Canadian https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 the continued help of friends and with my explorer, paid a warm tribute to Sir Hubert 004940 skilled companions, Eielson, Crossan, and Wilkins for his fearlessness and Porter, I hope important work that will be adaptability, and expressed the opinion that 12 May 1929 accomplished. it would be an admirable speculation by the SIR HUBERT WILKINS Then will come the more important work. British Empire to fit out Sir Hubert Wilkins DISCUSSES FUTURE PLANS By taking advantage of the knowledge completely for the completion of their gained and through in international Antarctic task. Exploring Arctic by Submarine organisation we hope, after a few years’ LONDON, Saturday. observation, to submit to the world “I have often thought of flying over information of economic importance to all Mount Everest,” said Sir Hubert Wilkins primary producers, and of value particularly broadcasting from 2LO, “but felt that to travellers by aircraft”. climbers had achieved so much under great difficulties that the final conquest should be [This is the second article of a series by Sir left to them rather than that they be Hubert Wilkins. The first appeared forestalled by effortless aviation. yesterday.] Aeroplanes enable more work to be done Empire Task in a day without exertion in the Antarctic Support from UnitedStates, than earlier explorers achieved in years of London, May 8. hardship and danger. “I have been in an embarrassing position My announcement of the proposed use of because practically the whole of the a submarine for Arctic work in the summer machines, money, and personnel in my of 1930 was regarded as startling. Really it exploration work have been provided from is not as dangerous as it appears. I have the United States, and whether I shall be been considering the difficulties for fifteen able to complete my work in the Antarctic years. It is no wild idea. next year in the interests of science and the I have carefully examined all the aspects British Empire will depend on the support I and am confident I can accomplish there receive from the Empire,” said Captain Sir much scientific work only to be achieved Hubert Wilkins at a luncheon given at the by means of a submarine. I will be in London in April 1910 ready to tackle the Savoy Hotel in his honour by Messrs. Sir Douglas Mawson from the (Western Mail (Perth), William Robinson, Clive Baillieu, and R. Thursday 28 February 1929, page 4.) Arctic.” G. Casey. Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 12 May Those present included Sir Harry Farewell to Sir D Mawson 1929, page 1. Batterbee assistant secretary to the London, May 9. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 Dominions Office: Mr W L Baillieu and Fifty men who had taken part in Antarctic 8414461 Mr. J. M. Niall. Sir Hubert mentioned that Expeditions dined with Sir Douglas 11

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

15 May 1929 My next Antarctic visit, with Shackleton, there was always the possibility of the Sir George Wilkins was made in a ship 112 ft. long. We slowly water in the harbour being blocked with ice Friedrichshafen, May 14. pushed our way through several thousands on the days when the weather was fine. Sir Hubert Wilkins will be a passenger in of miles of pack ice, and at one point for six The menace of bird life in the harbour the Graf Zeppelin leaving on Wednesday on weeks the pack ice held us fast in its icy was serious, and might easily lead to a trans-Atlantic flight. He hopes to return to grip. trouble. With the help of twenty whalers we London at the end of the month. It appeared as though we would be for cleared the loose stones from a forty-foot Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld), 15 May ever held in the arms of her majesty the runway on a projecting peninsula of 1929 page 6. Queen of the Antarctic. I learned to adore volcanic cinders. her and her whims and fancies as each day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/6 she appeared in spangled icy dresses, 1177932 scintillating colour, and fascinating everyone who could comprehend her presence. I, for one, would have felt pleasure for eternity in her embraces, but a mighty iceberg, no doubt jealous of our attentions, came along, smashed the pack ice, and released our ship. We returned to civilisation eight years ago.

Penguins during the 1928 Antarctic Expedition. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins33_5_110].

An Awkward Take-off. The dining room on the Zeppelin. *OSU Polar Archives The peninsula at its base was less than [wilkins33_6_50]. one mile wide. To cross it required the 16 May 1929 climbing of one slight rise, a turn of twenty Antarctic Thrills. degrees, gliding down an incline, climbing The Adventures of Sir Hubert Wilkins. another slope to a hill crest one hundred (By Captain Sir Hubert Wilkins, feet above the starting point, and then Commander of the Wilkins-Hearst turning at an angle down the other side — a Antarctic Expedition. Copyright, 1929, by complicated procedure for a heavily-laden New York American, Inc. All rights fast-moving aeroplane. reserved. Reproduction, in whole in part, It was more so, because the surface was Photo from Antarctica 1928. *OSU Polar Archives soft and gravelly, and there was always the prohibited.) [wilkins33_4_21]. First Acquaintance with the Antarctic. risk of turning a wheel inside out. The My third Antarctic journey is ended. Years weather continued warm and cloudy, with ago, toiling at the end of a heavy oar, tossed My Third Visit. short intervals of sunshine. These intervals in an open lifeboat, I struggled for 14 days I journeyed south this year, hoping to were used to test the machines in flight, and at the feet of the Antarctic’s majestic woo the royal lady of my acquaintance. I to search the neighbourhood for a better mountains, and in that time mapped some have returned conscious of having done landing field. From the air the landlocked 30 miles of unknown coastline. nothing more than rudely stumbled upon harbour of Deception Island could be Throughout every waking hour I was her bathing, naked, in her private pool. clearly visualised. awed by the stupendous majesty of the We had carried our two Lockheed Vega scenes unfolded. Every foot of the way was monoplanes to Deception Island, at the fought for. Every point had to be landed edge of the Antarctic, on board the Hektoria upon, and a bitter half-hour spent with Whaling Company’s 15,000-ton transport freezing fingers manipulating a surveyor’s ship Hektoria, and were comfortably transit. established, with the ship as our Hours and hours, sometimes a day’s headquarters. delay was suffered, because of clouds and There we lived in a degree of comfort not low visibility, but the satisfaction of hard excelled in a crack ocean liner. In earned gain was ours. Then came a thrilling anticipation of using snow surfaces for three days’ sail before a storm. Only a take-offs when the weather cleared, we corner of a sail was necessary. Three of changed our pontoons for skis and the us—one as lookout at the bow, one at the machines stood in readiness about half a sail, and I at the tiller, which was fractured, mile from the ship. Aerial Photo taken during the Antarctic Expedition in and threatened to give way at every Dull clouds with low ceiling continued 1928. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins33_5_63]. moment—were swept before a gale of wind for many days, and the snow was damp and The neighbouring islands ranged higher and huge following seas for 50 hours— sticky. Unable to do any useful work, even than Deception, and they were more snow- without rest or sleep. if we had gone into the air, we decided to covered; but the mountains rose sheer-sided Twice we ran aground on hidden rocks. avoid unnecessary risk, and kept the from the sea. They shed many steep We jettisoned our food and ballast, and machines on the ground. glaciers, the reticulated feet of which were washed off again, the boat half full of Then came a period of unusually warm reached out into the water, making it almost water. It floated because of its watertight weather where snow disappeared from the impossible to approach the mountains from compartments. hills as if by magic. Water formed six the sea level. Only the sturdiness of the boat and inches deep on the flat bay ice. Our snow- We flew for many hours about these destiny saved us. I returned to civilisation covered shore, ski-landing field melted in a majestic masses, and at last, when the sun’s with an awesome fear of the Antarctic. Yet night. There was nothing to do but clear a slanting rays allowed the warm air currents I had a mind to dare again. There is runway on the hillside, remove our skis, to form engirdling clouds, we turned our something thrilling about a place where one and use wheels for trial flights. fleet-winged monoplane and followed the has faced great risks. Under the circumstances, it might have been advisable to replace our floats, but shadowed coast to our temporary home. 12

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One day we essayed to try a landing with and Mother Carey’s chickens, fortunately field and filtering it through chamois leather wheels upon the fast-disappearing sea-ice in missing them in our take-off. With even a is no light job. Crossan and Porter filled the the bay. It was in this we took our greatest light load the machine was loggy on the tanks with Mobiloil and Plume gasoline. risk, and suffered a remarkably narrow water, but facing a breeze we managed to Eielson and I tramped the runway. It ran escape. rise, and once in the air the machine ln three directions, with two sharp turns. It It seemed possible that, if we could, on an behaved perfectly. was up hill and down dale. Each side was unusually cold day, land with wheels, We descended to take on a greater load, banked with lava. We had named it Hoover change quickly to skis, put on our load, and and as we came gliding down the air Field. Would the machine with its heavy take off at once, we might in that manner be seemed full of sea birds. It was impossible load steer on the soft surface? able to remove our base to some point to miss them all. There was a frightful crash Would it in the short distance gather further south. as the body of a large bird struck the sufficient speed to take us into the air? We propeller hub. spoke but little. We looked at the field and A Bad Landing. A momentary hesitation of the engine, at each other. We both knew that for Early one morning Eielson made a and a gasp of fear from Pilot Joe Crossan safety’s sake we should spend another 24 perfect landing on the ice far down the bay. and myself, but Crossan, always hours preparing the runway. I said to The machine slithered along the smooth dependable, soon righted the machine, and Eielson: surface for three hundred yards then, at the we came smoothly to the water. The “What do you think?” moment of coming to rest, struck a soft spot cowling and the leading edge of the wing “Whatever you say,” he replied. I thanked and plunged through into the water. The was smeared with blood and feathers, but God for the courage of my companion. I broad wings held it from disappearing, with the machine, except for dented knew I could depend more upon his skill the pilot still on board. streamlining, was undamaged. than upon the weather. Eielson crawled out uninjured and, after a We took on our supplies, and, although As yet there was not a cloud in the pale strenuous and extremely dangerous ten we tried in ideal conditions, we could not blue sky but the thermometer stood a few hours’ work, and with the kindly and timely rise to the step of the floats and leave the degrees above freezing, and the barometer, help of twenty Norwegian whalers, we had water. There was nothing to do but transfer falling steadily, indicated that the clear the satisfaction of seeing the machine safe our equipment, further clear the runway, weather would not last. on solid ice. It was not much the worse for and, using the land machine, have faith in Eielson heated the oil on a primus stove. its ducking. our Whirlwind engines. Then we hurried off and, dressed in our In a few days we had overhauled the sea- Worumbe clothes, brought our packs of soaked engine, and had the machine flying Norwegian Aid. food and personal equipment to the plane. in the air. That one adventure was sufficient The final clearing of the field was easier (To be continued.) to assure us that we could not use the said than done. Much of the surface was of harbour ice or skis on Deception Island that volcanic tuff and lava, lying in ridges like season. huge furrows on a field deeply ploughed. In Normally, from observations recorded some places we had to remove two feet each year since 1914, the harbour ice is from the surface; at others fill in ditches strong and solid until Christmas. Our several inches deep and many feet wide. adventure happened on the first day of Our friends the Norwegian whalers — December. without whose help we could not have succeeded — came to our aid. They brought Taking a Desperate Chance. extra picks and shovels, wheelbarrows, We had regretfully to come to the forks, and buckets, and we set to work with conclusion that our first long effort would a will to remove the coke-like debris. perforce be made from the gravelly landing Fortunately, the material was not heavy, field, but before that could be done, there but it was considerable in bulk and the was much improvement to be made on its many tons of it we shifted stood in rows surface. feet high on both sides of the forty-foot- We had carried out our test flights, met wide runway, adding of course, to the with disastrous adventures, and had come to hazard. The weather was warm and ideal. realise that we could not hope to enter the It could scarcely continue so for more realms of her majesty of the great white than a day or two. We had been fighting south without a struggle and great risk. with the seaplane for 20 hours; for 16 hours Instead of flying happily away on skis, we dug and raked and carried off the lava; SIR G. H. WILKINS. prepared for all emergencies, we would be our backs were breaking and every finger compelled to complete a runway, then, with blistered. Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld), Thursday 16 wheeled landing gear, which would spell At last the way was cleared but by no May 1929, page 7. disaster if a forced landing was necessary, means perfect. We could use it at a frightful https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 and a minimum supply of equipment and risk, but the risk of not getting more of such 2861533 provisions, take a desperate chance. perfect weather was greater. I hurried to

A peculiar spell of warmth and quite transfer my instruments from the seaplane unusual rain had melted the snow and Los Angeles to the land plane San 19 May 1929 formed pools of water everywhere. Francisco, and while the others snatched a BROADSIDE-ON Then suddenly the clouds gave way to little rest I fixed radio, drift indicators, ALARMING SWING perfect sunshine. Our field was not yet compasses, sextants, peloruses, cameras, SIR G. WILKINS’S STORY prepared, so we decided to try a trip with charts, and chronometers, which were LONDON, Saturday. — pontoons — one machine was then fitted necessary for navigation. Sir George Wilkins the Australian with pontoons, the other with wheels; we By 4 a.m. these instruments were explorer, who was a passenger, in a hoped with pontoons to fly south, land on installed, and I wakened Eielson, so that we wireless message from the Graf Zeppelin the snow, and make a depot of supplies. might test them in the air. Crossan and before the engines stopped, said they were Fearing the hazards and a wholesale Porter came out to help. We circled the struggling back to the base at 45 miles an slaughter of sea birds which thronged the field for half an hour, made final hour. There was no danger. All aboard were harbour, we set off for a trial flight. A adjustments, and, everything in order, we cheerful and comforted by the thought that motor boat preceded us. Our speed soon landed. there was sufficient fuel for a week. excelled that of the motor boat, and we There were only the tanks to fill, but even A thorough examination was to be made, clove our way through the whirring, the carrying of the two hundred gallons of which would include all of the engines. The squawking pigeons, nellies, seagulls, terns, gasoline over two hundred yards of gravelly captain was withholding a statement to the 13

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day passengers until the mechanics had airship travel, while uncertain, is safe if COURTESY OF FRENCH. completed the examination. It was possible only sufficient ground organisation is The commandant of the Cuers aerodrome that two engines definitely were disabled. It provided. arranged admirable accommodation for the was hoped that the mechanics could patch “We manoeuvred for two hours before crew of the Zeppelin. The officers remained up one and help out the others. They were landing, but there was no feeling of danger aboard, and every convenience and supplies flying with three sound engines. to lives or uncertainty by either the were provided. “Dr. Eckener is most At 6 a.m. a mistral was met. The course passengers or the crew. It was a great pleased with the arrangements and courtesy was three-quarters into the wind, and the experience for observers aboard. All knew of the French. Dr. Eckener says that two progress hardly noticeable sometimes, the that unless a landing crew was available the engines left Friedrichshafen yesterday and wind was so strong and depleted engine ship was doomed, though the passengers, are expected here in two days, it will take a power so ineffectual. They were frequently we believed, would be unharmed. day to install them; then with three engines flying almost broadside against the wind. During the approach to the landing field I they will return to Friedrichshafen and Far beneath them white-capped waves recalled when, with Eielson in an aeroplane, install the two others and prepare to broke in lacy patches. Dr. Eckener and we were helpless and forced to land, then continue the Atlantic flight. three officers in the control cabin had the trusted to Providence. They will use the original type of situation well in hand. Yesterday we trusted to the downright machines, but more cubic metres of Occasionally one of the three useful efficiency of our German friends. Dr. hydrogen are required, and petrol, also is engines would stop; then, the machine Eckener, Captains Lehmann, Fleming and necessary. “Dr. Eckener is going to would swing as if centrally pivoted. The Von Schiller, junior officers of the crew, Friedrichshafen this afternoon, returning in passengers spent a comfortable night, and inspired our admiration. Everyone can two or three days for the flight turned out early to breakfast, good- understand their desire to reach their own “The director of the Zoological Gardens naturedly joking at having to have cold country with the ship, their country’s pride, visited the gorilla Susie, which did not coffee, as the electricity was otherwise which was threatened with destruction in a sleep last night. She was most nervous this needed. The wind gradually abated an hour foreign country. “We felt with them, while morning when taken from the hangar to be after sunrise. they attempted practical operations. France photographed. The director says: “The responded nobly to the dramatic wireless animal will go to America in the next “Lend us a hand; we are in trouble.” flight.” Dr. Eckener has invited me to remain and return with the Zeppelin.” Sir George Wilkins, who vividly describes the Daily News (Perth, WA), Monday 20 May Battle of the Zeppelin against heavy wind. 1929, page 7. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8 5150068

A colorful sunset taken from the Zeppelin. *OSU Polar Archives [zeppelin-9].

GERMAN PRIDE HURT. BERLIN, Saturday. The news of the Zeppelin’s safety has been received with deep thankfulness in all parts of Germany. Newspapers were eagerly bought. Broadcasting stations abandoned the musical programmes owing Cartoon from the (Daily News (Perth, WA), Monday 20 to grave peril, substituting details of the May 1929, page 7.).

Zeppelin’s struggle. It is now generally 22 May 1929 admitted that the flight has shown that trans-Atlantic travel is still hazardous for JUNGLE ADVENTURE with airships of the Graf Zeppelin’s size. CANNIBALS. Germany must follow Britain’s example By Sir Hubert Wilkins. and build bigger and stronger airships Sir Hubert Wilkins, the famous flier and before they become a commercial explorer, recalls the most dramatic episode proposition. It is regretted, in view of Dr. of his career in an article published in the Eckener’s unfriendly comment on French Country Gentleman. “Yes, I have felt the stipulations regarding crossing France, that cold chill of utter horror,” he writes, “and the Zeppelin should be forced to land there. my hair, physically not metaphorically, has (Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Qld), Sunday 19 stood on end.” May 1929, page 1.). “Here is an episode in my life in which aeroplanes play no part, and during which I https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9 received such a fright that it hung by me for 7695268 a long time. It came about because I

decided that I wanted to find out about a 20 May 1929 more or less mythical cannibal tribe of ZEPPELIN SAVED aborigines. ADMIRATION FOR GERMANS I was on Groote Eylandt, a large island as SIR G. H. WILKINS' STORY its name implies, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, (By Sir Hubert Wilkins; Copyright.) situated in the tropics north of Australia. TOULON, May 19. For some years I had heard about these The fact that the Graf Zeppelin rests DR. ECKENER, COMMANDER OF THE BUFFETED aborigines, but no one seemed to know easily must induce the world to believe that ZEPPELIN 14

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day anything much about them. It was my had been taken. I had this because I was natives had bolted! I was utterly disgusted ambition to lift the veil and scientifically doing some zoological work for a London with myself for having shown so little determine what manner of people these museum. control, but I determined, now that I had were. Well, I thought, they are becoming more seen the aborigines, to follow them up. familiar; perhaps I shall see them soon. And Evidently they were not going to kill me Impersonating a Lunatic. I was not mistaken. on sight, so I made up my mind to get into I knew that they were hostile to white That night I turned as usual under the communication with them. I tracked them men; practically all the natives are, and they boat with mosquito netting as my only for several miles, all the time calling out the do not have to be cannibals, either, to feel covering. I was lying on my back, getting few words of friendship I knew in their that way. Now it is a well-known fact that drowsy, when I was snapped into life again dialect. these very untutored aborigines, like others by hearing stealthy footsteps. It seemed as of their kind, fear and respect only two though there must be at least two men Cannibals for Friends classes of people. These are missionaries coming on. At last my pursuit made an impression and lunatics. My impulse was to jump to my feet and and the men halted. They could not So long as the missionary sticks to his face them. Then I realised that they would understand a word of what I said, and I religious demonstrations they regard him be on top of me before I could move. If spent a busy half-hour making motions that with awe and superstition, and he is safe. they saw me moving they would interpret indicated my friendly feelings toward them. They are afraid of him. Lunatics and weak- my actions as hostile, and a shower of But they did not seem to want to be minded persons generally are those who spears would follow. I caught my breath, convinced; they milled back and forth with have some pull or other with the gods, and and then decided to lie perfectly still and upraised spears, all the while making must, therefore, be treated with care and pretend that I was asleep. If there had been guttural noises in their throats, and shaking kindness. In fact, these aborigines take light those two warriors would have seen their throwing-sticks in a threatening better care of their lunatics than we do of my hair stand with fright. manner. our geniuses. A moment later and two sharp, jagged Of course, I realised that they were as So I had the choice. Either I must stalk flint spear points were pointed at my chest. afraid of me as I was of them but they could my cannibals as a missionary, or I must The men stood on either side of me, their not see how shaky my knees were on lead them to believe that I was quite weak spear points seeming to quiver with account of my trousers. It was only after in the head. I could not impersonate a eagerness for the kill. they had made sure that I was a poor, missionary and perhaps, I would not have I should have shut my eyes but I was inoffensive white man that they calmed done so if I had felt I could make a go of it. fascinated by them. Each savage nodded to down and allowed me to come close to the other, as though saying, “You start the them and touch them. ball rolling, and I’ll join in.” I could feel the After that I would not let them out of my jagged flints tearing my flesh. sight. I had found my cannibals, and I I was too scared to move, even if I had intended to know all about them. Later that wanted to. I know now what it means to be day we came to their settlement, and there I paralysed with fright. Then suddenly one of found others of the tribe and among these the men nodded more emphatically and I were several who spoke a little pidgin thought. Here it comes now. But to my English. intense relief, both suddenly lifted their One of the first questions I wanted the spears and faded into the bush. I had been answer for was why had the two men given a reprieve. My life had been spared. refrained from killing me. Through these But for how long? natives, who spoke a little English, I asked I remembered that it was said that these the two men why they had desisted. They natives never killed anything, not even their told me that they had agreed to slay me as I enemies, except during the period between slept, but when it came to the sticking dawn and sunrise. point, each one wanted the other to let the It was several hours before dawn, so I first blood. An advertisement from the World’s News (Sydney, NSW), Wednesday 22 May 1929, page 7. decided to go to sleep and wake before The interpreter put it in this quaint dawn, ready for any emergency. Not having manner: ‘Everybody all about want you Hence the Alternative. any arms, I was a bit hazy as to what I kill. Two men say something inside’ — So I literally plunged into the jungle would do, but I had an idea that I might go here he put his hand above his heart — home of these man-eaters with no weapons through some incantation or ritual that ‘won’t let him do it.’ of any kind. I had nothing for either offence would make them think I was either a I became quite friendly with these people or defence. In my small boat I wandered up lunatic or making witchcraft. and lived with them for two months. I and down the crocodile-infested river of Many watches kept at sea have given me found that they were not willing cannibals their country, fighting my way through the the faculty of sleeping at will when tired, — that is, they did not eat human flesh jungle for several days. and of waking at any time I wish. So I slept because of any uncontrollable desire for it. From the very beginning I felt that I was and waked just before the first flush of They ate their fellow men only when the being watched. Eyes were always on the dawn broke across the velvet darkness of desire for fat became impossible to resist. back of my neck, but I could not even get a the tropic sky. There are no fatty products in their glimpse of any of the people. Turning on my face with my head resting country; none of the game has fat meat, and Cornered in the Jungle on my bended arms I waited for the crisis. It there is no vegetable fat to speak of. Hence After a little I began to feel fairly safe. If was not long. As the first streaks of colour they get along as best they can. they had intended to murder me, it seemed were shot out by the rising sun, I saw a Once I had been accepted by the tribe had to me that they would have been about it bundle of spear shafts filtering through the no further anxious or tearful moments. before then. bush. The men themselves were hidden by Heaven knows, I did not need them; the However, I must admit that the constant the undergrowth. fright I got that first night when the two surveillance had its effect on me. It made So intently did I watch their oncoming warriors stood over me urging each other to me feel jumpy, and I would never have that I forgot to look in any other direction. take the first stab was enough to last me a been surprised to have had to dodge a spear Then suddenly I was startled by seeing, out lifetime”. or two. of the corner of my eye, a bended figure World’s News (Sydney, NSW), Wednesday For the first few days nothing was with arm drawn back and a spear pointed at 22 May 1929, page 7. touched in my camp, although there were me. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 signs that it had been investigated. So scared was I that I let out a yell, and the 31485601/14747558 One day, however, I returned to find that spear struck the ground a few feet short of some bait that I carried for small mammals me. There was a rustle for a second— the 15

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

southern hemisphere but in a great measure anticipate, if it were not for the fact that we in the northern hemisphere. are assured today of expert advice not only We expect to be able to forecast from our aviation exports, but those people condition in the northern hemisphere who really serve aviation. through the efforts of the Aero-Arctic It doesn’t matter, how perfect your Society in Berlin, who will next year send engine may be, it doesn’t matter how out the Graf Zeppelin, which flew over perfect your airplane may be. We’ve come New York City not so long ago, to establish to know from flying in these extreme stations in the Arctic, some of those stations conditions that we depend largely upon our in the area which we were able to discover, fuel and our oil. from Point Barrow to Spitzbergen last year. In our Arctic, work, during the last few The real purpose of our work this year in years, and also in our work in the South, we the Antarctic was to map the unknown realise that we depend largely on our coast of the Antarctic with the hope of engines, and that our engines depend locating a station where we will maintain largely on our spirit and oil. one of the twelve meteorological points of “And I’d like to assure you we received An advertisement from the (World’s News (Sydney, NSW), observation and from these points of such excellent service from our spirit and Wednesday 22 May 1929, page 7.). observation we expect to gather oil that we never had a moment's trouble information, not this year or next year from our spirit and engines. 30 May 1929 perhaps, but during the next tens or fifteen And that is what has really enabled us to Sir Hubert Wilkins’ Flight to the years, which will enable us to forecast carry out this flight in the Antarctic; which Antarctic. seasonal conditions with accuracy. is the real beginning of Antarctic flight.” In view of his experiences, it is especially “Meteorologists have told me that they Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA), interesting to read Sir Hubert Wilkins can assure us of at least fifty per cent Thursday 30 May 1929, page 6. address, as given by him through the increase in the value of meteorological https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/7 forecasting, if we can establish these National Broadcasting Corporation on 7905671 March 13th at New York, a few days after stations. So, you can well understand that his return to America. we are very anxious to carry out this work. He outlined the importance of Polar “Throughout my whole experience with exploration to civilisation and of the airplanes, it has been extremely pleasant to geographical work that had been have with me one of my best friends, and I accomplished. think the finest pilot that I could find His address was as follows: — “Good anywhere in the world. “I refer to evening, ladies and gentlemen. I feel sure Lieutenant Carl Ben Eilson. that few of you will realise that those of us You must realise that those of us who who are recently returned from the must lead expeditions and bear the brunt of Antarctic look forward with a great deal of either the success or failure, depend largely pleasure to the time when we shall begin upon our companions for either success or our next expedition. failure. Part of our success is due, I assure It’s really hard, to imagine that we should you, to the courage and skill of Lieutenant enjoy the excursion into the extreme polar Carl Ben Eielson. conditions into the far south, where people This year we’ve also had the expert believe we see nothing but snow and ice. service or Orville Porter, our mechanic, and “We all realise that Commander Byrd is I am sure that some of you listening in goings to do wonderful work with his tonight will know Orville Porter, because airplanes in the south this winter, and this he has attended to machines that have flown spring, and we hope to continue our work, across the Atlantic, and across the United also. States, and in many other places, and Joe We expect to do work next year which Crosson, who has been known to the will bring us in touch with Commander northern part of the world, at least, as Byrd, and connect our work with his. When Fearless Joe Alaska. we flew south this year, we were facing And with those three men, with me, you can well understand that we looked forward much greater hazards than we expected to An advertisement from (Border Watch (Mount Gambier, face when we left. to a certain measure of success in the SA), Thursday 30 May 1929, page 6). Our time is limited tonight, and I can’t Antarctic this year, and we’re very pleased explain to you the real, purpose of our to return after completing, about fifty per 6 June 1929 work, but I think I’d just like to tell you cent of what we've set ourselves to do in the SIR HUBERT WILKINS'S past. what we have in mind. “For many years, EXPEDITION IN THE ANTARCTIC. polar explorers and others who have gone We expect to leave in September and into these out-of-the-way places have found return to the Antarctic to complete our difficulty in explaining, even to their flying programme, but that is really only the supporters what they wanted to do. They beginning of our work in the south. We have gone out for adventure. must complete our geographical work; and But we today can point to some definite then our job is to try and organise an economic advantage as a result of our international bureau that will, attend to explorations. these meteorological matters, we really We believe that we can, after doing our believe that the world in the future will geographical work establish stations In the come to idealise the value of the work we Antarctic for the investigation of are doing today. meteorological conditions, forecast seasonal I find that in the Antarctic we are so busy conditions, so that it will really enable us to doing our work that we haven’t time to talk, control the price of beef and clothing and but it seems that when we come back to overcoats, and boats, and everything that civilisation, we have no time for anything A view of the harbour at Deception Island showing the the average individual requires. By gaining else but talking. “And I’d like to tell you aeroplane landing field.in the foreground. The base of tonight that it wouldn’t be possible for us to operations for the expedition was established on the knowledge of conditions in the Antarctic shores of the harbour. we can forecast condition not only in the go back with the pleasure that we 16

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20 July 1929 Southern Cross for Smith and Ulm and Machine that has Carried Kingsford allowed Wilkins to complete the purchase Smith across the World. of his new machine. Smith and Ulm had the Southern Cross has History Full of Southern Cross reconditioned and fitted Romance with three Wright-Whirlwind engines. To Arctic Regions and Across the Seven The financing was done mainly without real money and first and second mortgages Seas were taken out on the plane. While the

The Lockheed-Vega aeroplane in which Captain Sir Hubert Wilkins and Lieut. Carl Ben Eielson flew over the Antarctic. It is shown set up on skis ready for the flight.

The big Fokker, christened the Southern airmen were on a trip to Mexico with the Cross by the late Keith Anderson, which millionaire, Mr. George Hancock, has carried Kingsford Smith and his endeavouring to enlist his support, the companions from Australia to England in mortgagees foreclosed and the Southern 13 days, is a plane which has had an Cross was put up for sale. Smith and Ulm amazingly varied and romantic career. returned just in time and Mr. Hancock Prosaic even have been the lives of liquidated the debts owing on the plane. Lindbergh’s Ryan monoplane and the Before the trans-Pacific flight started The harbor covered with birds.. Fokker that took Byrd to the North Pole and Kingsford Smith used the Southern Cross across the Atlantic, compared with that of for stunting and attempting records. the plane Kingsford Smith calls the “old The Southern Cross established two bus.” records. One was for the greatest lift per The first owner of the machine was Capt. horse-power per square foot of surface, and G. H. (now Sir Hubert) Wilkins. He used the other was for an endurance record for a the Southern Cross during an unsuccessful multi-engine machine. It was because of the attempt to fly over the North Pole in 1927. petrol supply running out that the “old bus” The plane was flown from Seattle to missed by two hours establishing a world's Alaska. It tasted snow, sleet and ice; record for an endurance flight by any type crossed white-coated wasteland, always of plane. speeding on. Came June of last year and the Southern The Southern Cross did not fly across the Cross was ready to fly from coast to coast pole, but its name must be linked up with across the Pacific. How it sped on for 82 that flight. hours 42 minutes through wind, rain and Penguins were often petted by members of the Expedition.. It was with the money Sir Hubert Wilkins lightning storms, with its pilot flying obtained through the sale of the Southern blindly for hours on an end remains an Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Thursday Cross, that he was able to purchase the unforgettable epic.

6 June 1929, page 14. machine that eventually carried him over https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 6550583

7 June 1929

M. Hamsen, of the Hektoria, shaking hands with the earth’s top. The Southern Cross came HOW THE SOUTHERN CROSS HAS MADE AVIATION Lieutenant Carl Ben Eielson, pilot of the expedition. Just into the hands of Kingsford Smith and Ulm HISTORY: — The routes of the flights which the giant before Eielson took off on one of his trips. Fokker has accomplished The journey to the Arctic was *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins33_1_6]. in August, 1927. made before Kingsford Smith bought it. The other flights The price was £3,000. Smith and Ulm have been. The first air voyage from America to Australia, the first from Australia to New Zealand and were able to pay only half the amount back, and the fastest from Australia to England. The down, and they gave a bill for the balance. Southern Cross has only one more ocean to conquer—the When the bill became due, they were Atlantic; and plans have already been made for an early flight from London to New York, via Gibraltar and the unable to meet it, but an unexpected loan West Indies. from a newspaper proprietor saved the 17

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

member of the previous Mawson Captain Davis from the (Observer (Adelaide, SA), The Southern Cross brought its men expedition, who began chaffing Hurley Saturday 2 March 1929, page 57.). The Discovery at present lacks a mascot, safely home across 6,417 miles of ocean. about the trip to Adelieland in 1913, when and may take a pet terrier named Nigger if The next task asked of it was to fly from the party constructed a cairn which Sir he can stand the cold. Sydney to Perth and back. That was child's Douglas Mawson found the next day, after play for it. In September the Southern losing his two colleagues, Mertz and Most Modern Equipment. Cross became the first plane to span the Ninnis. Captain Davis, the Commonwealth Tasman. Another expert aboard the Discovery is J. Director of Navigation, said that everything On the return trip in October it reached W. S. Marr, famous in 1921 as the scout was ready for the departure to Cardiff for Richmond with only three gallons of petrol who was Shackleton’s choice for the Quest. coaling, after which the ship goes to Cape in the tank. The youngest member of the crew, who town on August 10, arriving in October, It had sped, on through more storms. average 30 years, is Frederick Leonard and picking up the Mawson scientific staff The Southern Cross again encountered a Marsland, an Australian: he is 21. at Kerguelen on October 15, re-coaling, and legal air pocket early this year, and a court leaving for the Antarctic, and returning to order was issued, restraining its owners “Sooner Be Flying.” Australia in April. from flying it out of the country. Sir Hubert Wilkins told an interviewer The crew numbers 28 officers and men, That obstacle overcome, the plane was that he had delayed his journey to 12 scientists, with a Marconi wireless set, headed for England, and after more storms Friedrichshafen, where he is joining the enabling constant communication to be kept it rested for 12 days on a mud bank in the Zeppelin, in order to farewell his colleagues with the outside world. A short wave wilderness of north-west Australia. in the Discovery, which is equipped with telegraph transmitter can be employed in Recrossing the sands of Australia's desert, the most modern scientific gear. “While I the Antarctic, communicating with the Southern Cross came back to am delighted to have such a ship in the Australia and Britain, and also enabling the Richmond, where it was flown for a brief Antarctic, I shall feel more at home explorers to listen in. The equipment also space by the Governor-General. aeroplaning at 130 miles an hour than at includes a wireless direction finder, and the Today, it is on English soil after a record five knots aboard ship, amid the icefields,” Moth aeroplane will also be equipped with breaking flight from Australia over 10,000 he said. “I shall accompany the Zeppelin to wireless. miles. It has conquered the Pacific and New York, and later on a round the world Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld), Monday 29 Indian Oceans. Only the Atlantic is left. cruise which she expects to complete in And the Southern Cross will have its nose August. After this I leave New York for a July 1929, page 1. pointed towards America next, Kingsford flying expedition to Exception Island, and https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 Smith has said. to map 2000 miles of new Antarctic 87389447 Observer (Adelaide, SA), Saturday 20 July coastland. 1929, page 16. The landing stage opposite the Discovery https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 was a blaze of bunting surmounted by the Australian flag. A white Antarctic flag flew 64895888 at her peak, the Union Jack was forrard, and https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 the Australian flag astern. 64895888 The guests included Sir Granville and Lady Ryrie, Lord Stradbroke, Sir Harry 29 July 1929 Battarbee (Dominions Office), Sir Henry Ready for Antarctica Barwell, General and Mrs. Bruche, the EXPLORERS FOREGATHER ON various Agents-General and their wives; DECK OF SHIP, DISCOVERY. Donald Mackinnon, the engineer, Vice- AUSTRALIANS’ FAREWELL. Admiral Skelton, and other naval officers. London, Sunday. They interestedly inspected the echo- “Good Lord! Fancy meeting you again.” sounding gear for depth finding, the Photo of the bridge of the Zeppelin. *OSU Polar Archives The speaker was Sir Hubert Wilkins, who scouting aeroplane, and the deep trawling [wilkins33_6_53]. had hastened back from New York by the gear. A photograph of the late Captain Scott 29 August 1929 liner Olympic, arriving in time to greet was at the head of the table besides K.G.O.’S BROADCAST. likenesses of the Duke and Duchess of Captain Frank Hurley on the deck of the Clearly Heard at Burnie. polar exploring ship Discovery, berthed at York, [and] Macpherson Robertson, the ZEPPELIN’S LANDING DESCRIBED Melbourne confectioner who gave £10,000 the East India Dock. Good reception of the broadcast by KGO towards the equipment. The latter was Three hundred Anglo-Australian and from outside Los Angeles of the welcome above the overmantel near the stove, New Zealand guests took part in a sort of to officers and passengers of the Graf whereat officers gathered during the preparatory farewell, prior to the departure Zeppelin was made by a Burnie wireless evenings in Antarctica. on August 1. Messrs. Hurley and Wilkins enthusiast from 11.30 p.m. to 12.45 a.m. on were becoming reminiscent when up rushed Monday. a little fresh-complexioned man, Dr. L. Special arrangements had been made at Hussey, one of the Shackleton Expedition. the mooring place of the giant airship, and He embraced and almost kissed Hurley when contact was first made the announcer exclaiming, “Well, I am blowed.” Hurley referred to the crowds who came out in “cy- explained to the newspaper men present, ars” and automobiles (never once did he “Hussey was the cheeriest soul in the speak of them as motors), in the brilliant expedition and kept us alive when we were sunrise of a typical Californian morning, shipwrecked.” with slight mists rising in the distance. “BOSH,” interjected Hussey. “It was you The huge Graf Zeppelin, with her silver who rigged up a stove and gave us warm sides shining, was a magnificent sight as grub and saved our lives. But for your banjo she floated down to the moorings at we’d have been dead now. You are the daylight, after remaining aloft overhead rottenest meteorologist I ever struck. But throughout the night. There were many the finest banjoist who ever played in the planes flying about, and what was referred Antarctic. I wish could come this trip, but to as a “Baby Zepp” caused considerable I’ve got a large family and a small amusement in landing. It came along the practice.” landing place three times with its landing Both turned as they were hailed by “Hodgy,” otherwise Alfred J. Hodgeman, a 18

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day rope trailing before the attendants were able An advertisement from (Advocate (Burnie, Tas.), Thursday ship stood up beautifully. We had no engine to seize the rope and enable it to settle. 29 August 1929, page 1.). trouble of any kind." 31 August 1929 Once the roar of the propellers of a big plane passing near the microphone could be WORLD FLIGHT ENDS distinctly heard, as the occupants of the The Graf Zeppelin Arrival at Lakehurst airship landed after their 3600-mile flight LAKEHIURST (N.J.), Aug. 29 from Tokyo, they came along (“each The Graf Zeppelin today has completed seemed to have a separate automobile,” said her successful round the word flight, in the the announcer) to the administration record time of 21 days 7 hours 32 minutes. building, where they all had to enter first to The passengers and crew are all in the best pass the customs officers. The announcer of health and enthusiastic over the voyage. stated many times that they hoped that Carl Captain Eckener announced that the Eckener would speak over the microphone, dirigible would leave for Friedrichshafen at but he did not do so. midnight on Saturday, under the command The first (and the best) speech was by of Captain Ernest Lehmann. Captain Lady Drummond Hay, who was the only Eckener plans to go to Washington, and lady aboard the airship. “Good morning, then to Akron (Ohio) to confer with the ladies and gentlemen,” was the opening Goodyear Zeppelin officials there before phrase of all the speeches, which were also his return to Germany. Mechanics today began to repair the slight damage to the tail delightfully brief. Lady Hay went on: “Imagine being dressed in an ordinary frock of the airship, which scraped some wires at Rear Admiral William Moffett, from the (Tribune and walking into a large hotel where meals Los Angeles, but the damage is not great. (Philippines), Wednesday 8 June 1932, page 1.). are served as usual, sitting-rooms are Captain Eckener states: — “have no available, you go to your bed as at your thought of retiring. When the Graf Zeppelin Dirigible Protection home, get up in the morning and have makes future important trips, I will be in Rear Admiral William Moffett (Chief of breakfast, use the lounge or promenade, command. the Bureau of Naval Aeronautics), and while all the time you are rapidly travelling Admiral Julian Latimer (Commandant of through space. the Philadelphia Navy Yard) greeted The two things that impressed me most Captain Eckener, and praised highly were the desolate wastes of Siberia, where Germany’s leadership in dirigible footsteps had never trodden, and the production. It was stated that the United wonderful sight looking down on the States, which lagged behind, hoped to profit millions of lights over the city while the by Captain Eckener’s example, and would airship was waiting for daylight.” build larger, faster, and stronger ships. Sir H. Wilkins referred to the steadiness of the Graf Zeppelin, only a slight rolling Several Times Bombed London being noticeable. He also spoke of the Captain Lehmann since the war has been necessity for better meteorological principal aide to Captain Eckener. He was a information, so that storm areas could be member of the Imperial German Navy, and evaded. Several Japanese, and also two then joined the Zeppelin service. Fliers here Germans spoke, but in their own language. consider him the foremost pilot of lighter- Captain Carl Eckener did not broadcast, than-air craft. He refused to speak often of although the announcer mentioned that he his war time services, but when asked if he walked into the administration building for had bombed London during the war, he customs purposes. replied gravely. “I did several times.” Asked if he was ever struck by shells, he Captain Eckener from the (Examiner (Launceston, Tas.), Telephony on Short Waves. Saturday 31 August 1929, page 10.). continued seriously: — “Once I brought Short wave sets, the Burnie enthusiast home a Zeppelin with 400 bullet holes in states, bring in a fair amount of telephony A Strange Sight the fabric.” now, chiefly American, KGO coming over Lieutenant Richardson told of the particularly well. WGY (Schenectady) astonishment of the people who saw the SIR HUBERT WILKINS carried out a very successful relay on Zeppelin in distant countries. “When people Sir Hubert Wilkins, upon disembarking, Tuesday afternoon, when an orchestra whom we saw on the ground sighted us,” he stated: — “It was a very fine trip. I like playing at Oaklands was broadcast. said; “they were frightened. Almost without starting better than getting off, but I am In looking for stations, he points out, it is exception they turned and ran away from glad it is over and I can start my own work to be remembered that both England and the ship, as if it were a monster, of which now; I will leave in three weeks’ time, and America adopt daylight saving hours. they should naturally be afraid.” expect to see Commander Byrd in the South Advocate (Burnie, Tas.), Thursday 29 Polar Sea, but I will be back in April in time to join the Graf Zeppelin on a hop to August 1929, page 1. Need for Accurate Data Lieutenant Richardson continued: — “I the North Pole. I am going on that trip, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/6 am of the opinion that there must be some however, as a private person, and not in any 7672844 international co-ordination for the official capacity.” compilation and exchange of Examiner (Launceston, Tas.), Saturday 31 meteorological data before lighter-than-air August 1929, page 10. travel around the world will become a https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 commercial possibility. 1616711 It is my belief that such aircraft in future will always be used for long distance travel, 6 September 1929 particularly over the water, but will need Wilkins Gets Married perfect weather information. The Germans Sir George Hubert Wilkins, famous expect to give the Graf Zeppelin a new Australian explorer, and Miss Suzanne overcoat when we return to Friedrichshafen. Bennett the Australian actress were quietly They are not entirely satisfied with the married at Cleveland, Ohio on Friday. fabric cover. We experienced all sorts of Northern Territory Times, Friday 6 weather and all sorts of conditions, but the September 1929, page 4.

19

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 3450431 562176 41385359 An advertisement from Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA), Wednesday 23 October 1929, page 20.).

Miss Suzanne Bennett, an Australian actress who married Wilkins. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins35_9_14].

26 September 1929 23 October 1929 Exclusive Pictures of Zeppelin World Sir Hubert Wilkins Remembers Mobiloil Flight Sir Hubert Wilkins, when ranking his THESE VIEWS, THE FIRST TO BE PUBLISHED IN first flight over the Antarctic, made the ADELAIDE, were taken during the world flight of the following entry in his flight diary: — “Just giant Graf Zeppelin from Germany to Tokio and across the Pacific to America. The composite picture shows: 1. crossed crest of smooth, splendid Sir Hubert Wilkins and Mr. Karl von Wiegand marking on indentation on new coast, naming it a chart the position of the Zeppelin on its round the world Mobiloil Bay, to commemorate the Miss Suzanne Bennett who became Lady Wilkins. *OSU tour. 2. Captain E. A. Lehman entertains the passengers Polar Archives [wilkins35_9_14]. with his accordion. 3. The gigantic airship flying over San excellent service rendered to aviation and to Francisco after its long trip from Japan. 4. Marines our expedition by Mobiloil.” mooring the airship on arrival at Los Angeles. 5. Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA), 7 September 1929 Breakfast in the saloon. From left: Sir Hubert Wilkins, Dr. Sir Hubert Wilkins Medias, Ernst Fischbach (cabin boy), and Dr. H. Eckener, Wednesday 23 October 1929, page 20. commander. A picture taken over the middle of the Pacific https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 Sir Hubert Wilkins, the Australian Ocean. explorer, has announced that a beginning Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA), 3451161 would shortly be made with the Thursday 26 September 1929, page 1. construction of the specially designed https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 submarine which he intends to use for geographical and meteorological explorations in the South Polar regions. He added that he expected to start on his voyage about December 15, and that his enterprise had no connection with the explorations now in progress under Commander Byrd.

Marriage to Actress Sir Hubert Wilkins and Miss Suzanne Bennett, an Australian actress, were quietly married at Cleveland (Ohio). The ceremony, which was performed by a justice of the peace, was extremely simple. Sir Hubert Wilkins and Miss Bennett met in New York on Thursday, and came to Cleveland on Friday. Australasian (Melbourne, Vic.), Saturday 7 September 1929, page 10. 20

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

24 October 1929 The R100 and the R101 represented big flying. Sir Hubert stated that he would Sir Hubert Wilkins’s Plans strides in progress and a comparison come back to form a new Southern Polar Sir Hubert Wilkins (the famous between the A101 and, for instance, the R33 expedition, and after that he contemplated Australian explorer), who has arrived at showed it. The figures for the two were— an expedition to the North Pole. Montevideo, declared that he would take Length in feet: 645 (R33), 724 (R101); Chronicle (Adelaide, SA), Thursday 7 along with him to the Antarctic boats diameter, maximum: 78, 130; capacity in November 1929, page 43. equipped with motors to overcome the cubic feet: 1,920,000, 5,900,000; speed in https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8 obstacles encountered last year. knots: 45. 75; gross lifting power in tons: 7469893 He added that he would return to Europe 61, 156. after the exploration in order to join the Captain Olliver expressed the view that proposed North Pole dirigible expedition. one of the airships would be used for trans- “When I have finished the summer aerial Atlantic crossings and the other, the R101, exploration,” said Sir Hubert Wilkins, “I would probably go to Egypt. It has been will proceed to Australia where my wife stated several times that airships in the will join me. tropics would not be a success, but a After resting there I will proceed to Zeppelin had been in the tropics during the Europe.” He added that he expects to visit Great War, and the crude oil engines of the the north Polar Regions in a submarine in R101 would reduce fire danger by 90 per July, and hopes during the present cent. exploration to fly to ‘Little America’ “and Eastern Recorder (Kellerberrin, WA), shake hands with my good friend Byrd.” Friday 1 November 1929, page 1. Asked if there were any possibilities of https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 his working with Commander Byrd, Sir 56310043 Hubert said he did not think it was likely. The Queenslander, Thursday 24 October 1929 page 3. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 2920242

1 November 1929 (Chronicle (Adelaide), Thursday 7 November 1929, page Airstrip Versus Aircraft 43.). The preliminary trial of the R101, coinciding as it does with the successful world tour of the Graf Zeppelin, has revived the old issue of the relative merits of the “lighter than air” and “heavier than air” methods of air travel. Between the two the keenest rivalry exists. Captain C. B. Olliver of the Shell Oil Company, whose interest lies with the lighter than air craft, has made some keen observations on possible future developments of the airship method of travel. Captain Olliver can claim to have intimate knowledge of this subject, for he was a member of the crew of the airship R303 when it created a sensation four years ago by breaking away from her mooring mast at Pulham, England, and flying across the North Sea in a 70 to 80 m.p.h. gale. An advertisement from Eastern Recorder (Kellerberrin, Captain Olliver maintains that the fact WA), Friday 1 November 1929, page 1. that they were able to fly the airship back to England with her nose badly damaged and 7 November 1929 two of the air bags punctured was altogether an excellent demonstration of the Sir Hubert Wilkins leaves for Deception safety of airships. Island, Montevideo Captain Olliver expressed the view, November 1. The Australian explorer, Sir Hubert speaking of the future of the airship, that it was almost a certainty that over long Wilkins, left on the Melville today with his An advertisement from the Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), distances, such as the trans-Atlantic route, companions for Deception Island. Sir Monday 18 November 1929, page 15. dependence would have to be placed on the Hubert was seen off by many friends, and a airship as opposed to heavier than air craft. representative of the British Legation. He 18 November 1929 It had to be remembered that the Atlantic sailed for Moesino [?] Island, where he will SIR HUBERT WILKINS. had been crossed from east to west only load provisions, and thence continue to WORK AT DECEPTION ISLAND. once by aeroplane, but it had been crossed Deception Island. First Motor Car Driven and re-crossed by airship. Sir Hubert carefully packed all LONDON, November 15. R34 crossed the Atlantic in 1919, the Los equipment, including a tractor, automobile, The following radio message has been Angeles followed later, the Graf Zeppelin marine motors, and repair parts for the picked up from Sir Hubert Wilkins at had crossed and re-crossed, he believed, airplanes, which are now in the Antarctic. Deception Island: — “Unloading is in full three times, and now the German craft had He took a good load of fixtures of many swing. We inspected the things ashore on completed a flight around the world in 30 sorts. He expects to be at the Falklands the one fine day which followed the days. “I read somewhere,” he said, “that Sir within five days, and to reach the ice mooring of the Melville, after which the Hubert Wilkins, travelling in the Graf, had regions three days thereafter. weather became bad and snow lay deep expressed the view that the flight had Then, in the next two days he should over Deception Island. become monotonous. That is what we want reach the Deception Island camp. He on flights like that: monotony.” expects to arrive in the proper season for 21

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

But the conditions look good. “Our two 1930 week by Capt. H. C. Smart, of Australia aeroplanes are unscathed, except that one stabiliser is slightly strained, but is easily repairable. The supplies are in perfect 1 January 1930 shape. The penguins are trustful and Wilkins Discovers New Land gravely watched the unloading of the MONTEVIDEO, Tuesday. — machines. The Government radio station has Half a gale sprang up during the second received a message from the steamer night, and the wind force increased all day Melville saying that Sir Hubert Wilkins long, bringing rain and sleet. The conditions discovered territories previously unknown are miserably cold, yet work goes on. “We in his last flight over the South Polar ice unloaded the automobiles today and cap. The Melville carried the South Cheeseman claims the credit for driving the Australian explorer to his Deception Island first ordinary passenger automobile in base. Antarctica.” Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA), Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Monday 18 Wednesday 1 January 1930, page 2. November 1929, page 15. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 4163951 9637870 1 January 1930 Sir Hubert Wilkins The Publicity Officer at Australia House House, London. (Mr. H.C. Smart), who is visiting Adelaide, It is nine feet by six feet, the same size as in June last while in London, received a Sir Hubert Wilkins letter from Sir Hubert Wilkins describing an incident to his flight across the Arctic Longstaff’s Menin Gate at Midnight, Ocean which has been painted by Longstaff which was shown here recently before for the Federal Government. being sent to Canberra. Sir Hubert writes: — “It was necessary The Wilkins picture will be exhibited for me to shove the machine in order to get here, and Captain Smart hopes that it will it started, and as it moved, I tried to climb be purchased locally and stay in Sir into the cockpit. Eielson could not see Hubert’s native city. behind from the pilot’s seat, and as he could Sir Hubert has written a vivid letter feel my weight on the tail he thought I was telling of the episode portrayed in the on board and took off. I could not gain the picture. Capt. Smart has brought his cockpit and had to drop just before the manuscript of the letter to Adelaide. Sir Hubert Wilkins. machine rose in the air. Eielson seeing me still on the ground SWOOPED DOWN MOUNTAIN 29 November 1929 circled and landed. This happened three In this Sir Hubert says:—“With Eielson Sir Hubert Wilkins times before I managed to climb on board piloting, we flew over rough ice and sea, Unfavourable Conditions and fly to safety. Longstaff has cleverly from Alaska to Spitsbergen, covering about The following wireless message has been caught the spirit of the scene.” 2,500 miles in 20 hours, 20 minutes. The received, from Sir Hubert Wilkins at Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), Wednesday 1 last 300 miles was through the worst storm Deception Island: — with the planes January 1930, page 9. recorded in Spitsbergen. Snowdrifts formed practically ready for flight we examined the https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 about our machine, in which we lived landing fields on the shore and bay. The ice 9000552 during a five-day blizzard. Then the sun conditions could not be worse. came out, and we saw clearly for the first The land field is partly covered with time the great mountains we had narrowly snow, yet not sufficient to allow us to use 4 January 1930 missed in the storm”. skis. Since the surface is impossible for ordinary wheels, we are testing out the planes with special wheels with large size tyres 15 inches wide. The bay ice is even worse than last year, and is too treacherous to use and we therefore must seek a southerly base. The steamer William Scoresby will be of great assistance to us in the search. Week (Brisbane, Qld), Friday 29 November 1929, page 15. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 89654823

24 December 1929 Wilkins’s Old Plane Destroyed FAIRBANKS (Alaska), Monday.— A plane, formerly used by Sir Hubert Wilkins in Arctic exploration, has been THRILLING ESCAPE IN ARCTIC destroyed by fire in the Alaskan Airways FLIGHT The Longstaff painting mentioned in the article from Observer (Adelaide, SA), Saturday 4 January 1930, page Coy’s. hangars. Wilkins Incident in Vivid Longstaff 26. The Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide) 24 Painting December 1929 page 4. A painting by Will Longstaff, an DROPPED FROM PLANE https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 Australian artist, illustrating the most “By the time we had cleared the snow 3427445 thrilling incident in Sir Hubert Wilkins’s from our machine another storm threatened. Arctic flight, was brought to Adelaide this The sea threatened to break up our tiny 22

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day landing field. It was necessary for me to Captain Sir George Hubert Wilkins, Cross, as the most coolly intrepid man in shove the machine to break out the skis, and whose flight from Deception Island over the Australian army. get it started. As it moved I tried to climb 300 miles of hitherto uncharted coastline in Sir Hubert’s next exploit was an attempt, into the cockpit. Eielson could not see from Antarctica was chronicled yesterday, has, at in 1919, to gain a £10,000 prize for a flight behind the pilot’s seat, and as he could feel 41, an amazing career of adventure behind from England to Australia, with V. Rendle my weight on the tail he thought I was safe him. He is of the stuff of the intrepid as pilot of a Blackburn-Kangaroo machine, on board, and took off. But what with the Elizabethans, whose exploits still fire the and himself as navigator. slippery fuselage, and the numbing cold, I blood of countless British schoolboys, and could not gain the cockpit, and had to drop to whom we owe the genesis of our just before the machine rose in the air. imperial spirit. Eielson seeing me still on the ground Sir Hubert is an Australian, born at circled and landed. This happened twice, Mount Bryan East, South Australia, on and we had almost exhausted our petrol October 31, 1888. His boyhood was spent supply before I managed to climb on board largely in the saddle, sheep mustering and and fly to safety. Longstaff, in his picture, boundary-riding, but he found time to has caught the spirit of the scene:” acquire knowledge at a state school and the Observer (Adelaide, SA), Saturday 4 South Australian School of Mines January 1930, page 26. It was not long before a quenchless spirit https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 of adventure took him far afield, and in 68928863 1912-13 he was war correspondent and photographer for the Morning Post during

Trying to dig out the Blackburn Kangaroo when it crashed in Crete. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins32_8_18].

They crashed in Crete, and the flight was abandoned. In the following year he was second-in-command of a British Imperial Antarctic Expedition, while in 1921-22 he accompanied Shackleton’s last expedition to the Antarctic as a naturalist. He then spent two years in exploring north Australia and collecting specimens for the British Museum. In 1926-27 he made a number of flights into the Arctic, encountering many setbacks, but occasionally surveying new regions. He made his base in Alaska. In March, 1926, both his planes crashed; but in April he and his pilot, Eielson, reached Point Barrow; and later penetrated into the unexplored tracts north of Alaska. Their machine was disabled 125 miles from Point Barrow, and they were missing for 13 days, but were rescued by a search party. In April, 1927, they had a similar experience, but found their way back to their base after 17 days. Wilkins then made an attempt to fly over the “blind spot” in the Arctic, but was beaten by a dense fog. In 1928, however, his efforts were crowned with success. He and Eielson flew from Point Barrow to Spitsbergen (2,000 miles) in 21 flying hours. They were forced down on the island of Dauholmen, north [?] of Spitsbergen, where they had to stay for the Balkan War, becoming known to the five days. 7 January 1930 Turks as “the mad Englishman”. His An exciting episode—than which nothing Sir Hubert Wilkins intrepidity and success with the camera could better illustrate the mettle of the Sir Hubert Wilkins has his base on Deception Island (near were so conspicuous that Stefansson invited man—marked the resumption of the flight. Graham Land), but had moved his vessel some distance him to join his Arctic expedition as second- The plane was almost snowed up, and an from there. On December 31 he flew over islands in the direction of Graham Land, and charted 300 miles of in-command. ordinary “take-off” was out of the question, coastline additional to his surveys of last year. He went (in 1913), and his courage, skill so Sir Hubert tied a rope to the interior of He is returning in his vessel to Deception Island to and resource, coupled with his success as the cockpit and round his wrist, and pushed. prepare for a flight from Deception Island over the South Pole and to the Ross Sea. “Little America,” is near the film photographer and hunter, proved As the machine gathered speed he was Bay of Whales (on the Ross Sea). invaluable during the expedition’s four dragged over the snow, and after it had years’ stay in the Arctic regions. risen, he clambered up the rope to safety—a Mercury (Hobart, Tas.), Tuesday 7 January On his return in 1917, Sir Hubert was feat few airmen would care to attempt. 1930, page 7. appointed official photographer and air His object was to pass over the “blind observer to the Australian forces in spot” and he, therefore, flew 300 miles east https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 Flanders. He took many films of the of the Pole, finding no new land and no 9148991 fighting, and the cinema picture issued by signs of animal life.

the Australian Government after the war Sir Hubert Wilkins was awarded the 8 January 1930 bears his name. Patron’s medal of the Royal Geographical Men of the Moment Sir John Monash described him when Society and the Norse medal of the Sir Hubert Wilkins. recommending him for a bar to the Military American Geographical Society for his 23

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day work in the Arctic, and was knighted for William Scoresby, which is adrift Several days having passed without word conspicuous service in 1928. somewhere in a vast sea of broken ice to the from Sir Hubert Wilkins in the Antarctic, After some talk of polar exploration in a South. interest centres on a letter sent by Wilkins submarine he is now repeating his former exploits at the other Pole, and all Australians will hope that his magical luck will hold.

Sir Hubert Wilkins.

West Australian (Perth, WA), Wednesday 8 January 1930, page 16). https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3 2343142

10 January 1930 Cape Mawson Unloading a car from the William Scorseby. From the SA to his brother in South Australia. The letter Sir Hubert Wilkins’s Tribute State Library. states: “You may not hear from me for

Exploration in Antarctica twelve months so don’t give up hope. If There is some comfort to be gained from [Copyright: By radio from Sir George nothing is heard after twelve months you the knowledge that Sir Hubert is an Wilkins. from Deception Island.] know I am lost and it will then be too late to experienced explorer, and that he is not London, January 8. send out any rescue party.” doing anything merely spectacular. “We are back again, and have had time to The letter adds: “In the event of the plane On January 28 he reported that he would plot approximately our recent discoveries. coming down I am carrying every make two or three more exploration flights We have fixed the north coast of Charcot conceivable thing for our safety and for if successful in the race against the rapid Land, five miles south of its charted getting back overland. I want you to use all approach of unfavourable weather. position. The cape, where the coast turns the influence in your power to discourage On that date the William Scoresby was to south beyond its most easterly point, is anything in the way of sending out a rescue leave for a point westward of Peter Island, conspicuous enough to deserve a name, and party if we are reported lost. I would not which was to be the “hopping-off” place for we suggest that it be called Cape Mawson. under any consideration like anybody to flights. Another cape, long. 70 deg. W., lat. 70 S., come out to my assistance at the risk of A three weeks’ trip was contemplated, we should like to be called Cape Byrd. We their lives.” and it was Sir Hubert’s hope to reach new sighted two islands which possibly are the The letter was sent from Montevideo. land far to the South. His message ended most easterly of the uncertain number of Northern Star (Lismore, NSW), Monday 10 with these words: “Desperate attempts islands belonging to the Finlay Group. against the weather so late in the season are February 1930, page 5. We are not likely to return to New York not warranted, as a rescue would be https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9 before the end of April. Owing to the difficult if an accident happened.” 4112936 dangerous uncertainty of flights across pack Those words should help in relieving ice, we are unable to make the Ross Sea anxiety. They indicate that anything rash 1 March 1930 flight because of the absence of a suitable would not be attempted, and that the SIR GEORGE WILKINS take-off. We are postponing our plans for explorers would not venture beyond the London.— the Arctic for a year.” reach of assistance. A message from Deception Island states Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Sir Hubert has been missing in previous all the whaling ships in the region have Advocate (NSW), Friday 10 January 1930. explorations; on these occasions he dropped other pursuits and are https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 displayed that resourcefulness and that grit endeavouring to locate Sir George Wilkins. 33388892 which are characteristic of the successful No white man since 1874 has visited the Polar explorer, and we are confident he will area Wilkins intended to explore. Wilkins 7 February 1930 do the same on this occasion. himself in his last despatch anticipated Sir Hubert Wilkins Brisbane Courier (Qld), Friday 7 February possible trouble and said “rescue in case of For seven days and nights there has been 1930, page 12. accident would be difficult but it is worth a failure to get in touch with Sir Hubert https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2 the effort. We are not likely to be able to Wilkins’s ship, William Scoresby, and in a 1506221 send radio news for some days. Our trip is wireless message from Deception Island likely to last three weeks.” New York. — A wireless from Deception much anxiety is expressed. A “wireless” 10 February 1930 breakdown, it is said, would hardly account Island on February 11 states that one of the Sir Hubert Wilkins for Sir Hubert’s long silence. Watches have whaling ships seeking contact with Sir Adelaide, Sunday been doubled and endeavours are constantly George Wilkins wirelessed: ‘Scoresby being made to establish contact with the heard from at 2 p.m. by wireless station 24

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

GMY’. The message did not indicate the We continued southwards for 10 miles. Lockheed-Vega Monoplanes, powered by cause of Wilkins’ silence which remains a When we believed that we were beyond Wright J-5 whirlwind engines, and in matter of mere conjecture. latitude 73 degrees in longitude 101 west addition he has added to this equipment Buenos Ayres. — Radio stations in this our range of vision was most limited. through his experience in the Antarctic last vicinity have made continued efforts to There was no indication of land and, year a tractor and an automobile and some establish communication with Wilkins in reluctantly, we turned back, making our outboard, motors for quick transportation order to verify the report the whalers had way through a sort of white darkness. over the ice. found him near Deception Island. After 20 minutes of difficult and Of course in an expedition like this Northern Territory Times (Darwin, NT), dangerous flying, we emerged from the everything depends on how the Aeroplanes Friday 21 March 1930, page 4. storm clouds, and flew low across the ice to function, for they are used for carrying https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 the William Scoresby. supplies and material to and from all bases 528261 The temperature dropped and the wind as well as for expeditionary work. increased, and no sooner had we landed on Any mistake in the functioning of the the water than the breaking waves froze. engines would mean instant death. The ice piled up, but we managed to haul The following cable message was received up the seaplane. A succession of storms by the Head-Office, Vacuum Oil Coy., Pty. prevented a further take-off, and as our oil Ltd., Melbourne, from Sir Hubert Wilkins: was running short, we decided to hurry — “Mobiloil and Plume Motor Spirit gave back to Deception Island. us most efficient service in Antarctic in all our flying operations; have used nothing FRENCH AIRMAN’S PROJECT. better.” PARIS, February 26. (Cairns Post (Qld), Monday 10 March In an attempt to realise the French dream 1930, page 3). of flying the Northern Atlantic from east to https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 west, in attempting which Nungesser and 1044081 Coli were killed, Captain Costes and Captain Bellonte have planned a non-stop flight from Paris to New York. They will make the attempt with the plane Question Mark, which is being reconditioned. A new 600 horse-power engine is being installed in the plane, and the work will not be completed until the end of April.

SYDNEY, February 28. As a prelude to his wedding, Squadron- Leader C. E. Kingsford Smith will attempt to fly the Atlantic from east to west. His old associates, Flight-Lieutenant T. P. Ulm, Mr. H. Litchfield, and Mr. T. H. McWilliams, will complete the crew. The famous Southern Cross, which has undergone a complete overhaul at Amsterdam, will be used for the flight. The route to be taken is indefinite, but if it is to be a straight-out non-stop flight, the route will probably be via Spain, Sierra. Leone, Pernambuco, Brazil, Mexico, and Florida to New York. Week (Brisbane, Qld), Friday 7 March 1930, page 17. A Mobiloil/Vacuum Oil Company sign.

An advertisement from (Brisbane Courier (Qld), Saturday https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 1 March 1930, page 17.). 82583052 21 March 1930

7 March 1930 10 March 1930 London. — A message from Deception Island states ATLANTIC FLIGHT Sir Hubert Wilkins’ Antarctic all the whaling ships in the region have SIR HUBERT WILKINS’S STORY. Expedition dropped other pursuits and are LONDON, February 26. Sir Hubert Wilkins, the famous endeavouring to locate Sir George Wilkins. Continuing the story of his Antarctic Australian explorer and scientist, who made No white man since 1874 has visited the flight. the first Antarctic flight in history last year, area Wilkins intended to explore. Wilkins Sir Hubert Wilkins, in a further dispatch has now completed the second phase of his himself in his last despatch anticipated from Montevideo, says: expedition for this year. The purpose of possible trouble and said “rescue in case of Our disappointment was great when we these explorations is to establish accident would be difficult but it is worth discovered that what we thought must be meteorological stations in the Antarctic, the effort. We are not likely to be able to land were merely icebergs casting a from which is will be possible to make send radio news for some days. Our trip is reflected glow on dark waters. Beneath the long-range weather forecasts. likely to last three weeks.” plane we could see broken icefloes and Captain Hubert Wilkins’ discoveries are New York, — A wireless from ahead a great wall of snow clouds barred of immense importance to Geographists, to Deception Island on February 11 states that our way. Geologists and Biologists. It is difficult for one of the whaling ships seeking contact We pushed into the snow clouds but they us here to imagine the difficulties which with Sir George Wilkins wirelessed: proved to be too thick to go through, and beset these expeditions and the perils to “Scoresby heard from at 2 p.m. by wireless we finally were forced down towards the overcome. station GMY”. The message did not ice, which was dangerous, since we might To successfully carry out these indicate the cause of Wilkins’ silence which meet high berg barriers. explorations, Captain Wilkins is using two remains a matter of mere conjecture. 25

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

Buenos Ayres [sic. Buenos Aires]. — Antarctic Planes used by Sir Hubert the U.S.A. to Australia. This power unit is Radio stations in this vicinity have made Wilkins one of the most successful ever produced, continued efforts to establish Interesting Machines but, like all other engines, demands fuel and communication with Wilkins in order to oil of the highest grade to operate verify the report the whalers had found him While full details of the aerial expedition successfully. near Deception Island. of the great Australian explorer, Sir Hubert Concerning this the Vacuum Oil (Northern Territory Times, 21 March 1930 Wilkins, into the wastes of the Antarctic Company has just received a cable, from Sir have appeared in the daily press from time page 4.). Hubert Wilkins in the following terms: to time, not so much is known about the https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4 “Mobiloil and Plume Motor Spirit gave us planes he is using, which is a pity, for they most efficient service in Antarctic in all our 528261 are of more than ordinary interest owing to flying operations. Have used nothing their unique construction. better,” These planes are practically identical, and 29 March 1930 That engines and planes are of the most one of them is a veteran of Sir Hubert efficient design is proved by the many Sir Hubert Wilkins Wilkins’s Arctic expedition. New York Reception Planned thousands of miles they have flown in the Washington, March 28. Arctic and Antarctic, and for this trouble- Mr. Herbert Brookes (Commissioner- free operation, the products of the Vacuum General for Australia in America) and Mrs. Oil Company, deserve their fair share of Brookes will give a dinner and reception on praise. Monday night to Sir Hubert and Lady Recorder (Port Pirie, SA), Tuesday 8 April Wilkins. 1930, page 4. Representatives from Britain and all https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9 dominions will attend. Dr. John Finley 5862701 (President of the New York Geographical Society) will be one of the most 26 May 1930 distinguished guests. Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey ‘Sir George Wilkins’ Gibson, from Australia, will be present, as Admiration well as Mr. Vihljamur Stefansson, the One of the planes used in the Antarctic. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins33_9_52]. New York, Saturday.— Arctic explorer. Sir George Wilkins, commenting on Miss News (Adelaide, SA), Saturday 29 March They are Lockheed Vega monoplanes, Amy Johnson’s flight said “It is a great 1930, page 5. each powered by a single Wright exhibition of skill, judgment and courage https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 Whirlwind J-5 nine cylinder radial engine which fills me with admiration. She is one 28982307 of 225 h.p. The Lockheed Vega is regarded of many of those laying the trail of what as one of the most efficient commercial will be a regular air route to Australia.” 31 March 1930 planes in use today; certainly, it is the Eleanor Smith, holder of the American altitude flight, said the flight is of Last Respects to Flier. fastest for its power and the cleanest design international value. Her courage in Sir G. H. Wilkins’ Rush ever produced, with the exception perhaps of the Schneider Trophy machines. overcoming obstacles is little short of The secret of the success of this machine miraculous. is largely due to the almost entire absence Ruth Elder said, “It is so marvellous I of excrescences on fuselage and wing. The wish I could have done it myself. We invite fuselage is perfectly oval in section and of Miss Johnson to the American Women’s true cigar shape. Derby.” It is built on the monocoque principle, National Advocate (Bathurst) 26 May 1930, which means that it is built up of plywood page 2. over forms and is sufficiently rigid in itself https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 to take all flying strains; it differs entirely 59771855 from the ordinary fuselage which is built up over four wood or metal long irons running from back to front and tied together with struts and wires. The construction enables the fuselage to be given beautifully smooth curves, so that skin friction in the air is reduced to a point much lower than that of the ordinary Carl Ben Eielson. fuselage. This smooth outline of the Lockheed Vega fuselage is carried into the Vancouver, Saturday. monoplane wing. Thousands of Americans pay a tribute to This is of the full cantilever type, which the graceful act of Sir George Hubert means there are no external bracing wires Wilkins in hurrying across the continent for or struts. This wing is of precisely the same the funeral of his old chum. Going to untold type as that fitted to the famous Southern trouble the dead aviator’s former comrades Cross, being thick in the centre and tapering found his body and shipped it to his out to the ends. birthplace at Hatton, North Dakota. Thus, the only external struts on the The funeral was held yesterday, Sir whole machine are those which attach the Hubert Wilkins arriving just too late to landing pontoons to the fuselage, and the air attend the obsequies, but spending several resistance offered by the wing bracing struts hours with Eielson’s parents. and wires of the ordinary plane are Miss Amy Johnson, whose magnificent achievement has Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld), Monday 31 stirred the imagination of women and men the world over, eliminated entirely. and has left seasoned airmen breathless with admiration. March 1930. The Wright Whirlwind engine is of the https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 same type as those which have already 86363549 proved their reliability in so many of the famous flights of the past few years, 8 April 1930 including the Southern Cross flight from 26

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

The giant monoplane survived the ordeal, 2 June 1930 26 June 1930 and, after it had been flown back to Sydney THE ZEPPELIN. THE GIANT MONOPLANE. and overhauled, it commenced, a few weeks Return Trip to Lakehurst. An Adventurous Career. later, its flight to England, when a world’s WILKINS FOR GERMANY. The Southern Cross —Squadron-Leader record was established. The machine was NEW YORK, Friday. Kingsford Smith’s plane—has had an then sent to the Fokker Company in Present reports indicate that the Graf adventurous and picturesque career. Holland for overhaul and remained in Zeppelin is running swiftly towards the Europe while its owners returned to United States, averaging 73 nautical miles Australia. per hour in improving weather. On his return to England, Squadron- The American Zeppelin representative Leader Kingsford Smith again obtained the (Mr. von Meister) stated today that the monoplane, flew it across to England and terrific tropical heat at Pernambuco, which commenced preparing it for its present epic caused great expansion of the fuel and flight. Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith lifting gas, probably reduced the airship's and the Southern Cross have only to fly ability to take a full load, thereby forcing across America from New York to San Capt. Eckener to miss Havana in order to Francisco to complete the circle of the arrive at Lakehurst with a fuel reserve world by air. complying with the requirements. West Australian (Perth, WA), Thursday 26 Naval officials assert that Captain June 1930, page 15. Eckener would make Lakehurst as early as https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3 2 a.m. tomorrow, but would probably cruise 3350721 slowly when near the goal in order to land in daylight. Lakehurst is fully prepared. 29 June 1930 The commander’s son, Knut, is waiting to The Motor Section fly back with the dirigible, which is expected to leave for Seville on Sunday evening. Sir Hubert and Lady Wilkins also Squadron-Leader Kingsford-Smith. will go to Germany by the airship. When Sir Hubert Wilkins (then Captain Struck Terrific Wind. G. H. Wilkins) made his famous but Capt. Eckener reports that the north-ward unsuccessful attempt to reach the North flight was successful until the ship passed Pole by air in 1927 the Southern Cross was Bermuda, where a terrific wind struck it. It the machine in which the flight was was much worse for a little while than the performed and the proceeds of the sale of mighty wind which gripped it in mid- the giant monoplane purchased the machine Atlantic in 1928. in which Sir Hubert Wilkins’s successful He considers commercial air traffic is not flight was made later. feasible below Pernambuco for a Zeppelin, Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith but an aeroplane could work the territory. acquired the plane in 1927. He had the Passengers remark upon the great comfort machine reconditioned but, while flying and satisfaction of the entire trip. over Mexico with a wealthy American Advocate (Burnie, Tas.), Monday 2 June named Hancock, the mortgage on the 1930, page 1. machine was foreclosed and the party https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8 returned just in time for Mr. Hancock to 4940142 liquidate the debt. Before the great trans-Pacific flight commenced, the Southern Cross was a frequent sight over American cities, as Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith used the monoplane for stunt flying. The machine established two records— one for the greatest lift per horse-power per square foot of surface, and the other for an endurance record for a multi-engine machine. In June, 1928, the monoplane crossed the Pacific. How it sped on for 82 hours and 42 THE “BABY” IN THE SNOWS. — This photograph, taken by Captain Sir Hubert Wilkins, shows the Wilkins-Hearst minutes through wind, rain and lightning expedition’s Austin Seven standing by to take off stores storms, flying blindly for hours on end, from the William Scoresby for transport to the base of remains an epic of the air. Then, from Deception Island. From this point Sir Hubert flew 600 miles south, making observations and taking pictures. Sydney to Perth, the crossing of the Several explorations were made in the S.S. Scoresby; Nullarbor Plain was child’s play to the One of the discoveries was that Charcot land is an island, monoplane. It returned to Sydney and took and not part of the Polar continent. Several new seas were discovered where land was indicated on the map, and off for the famous flight to New Zealand, several new islands were discovered and charted on the conquering a sea which had already proved maps of the expedition. Sir Hubert made observations as disastrous to a famous aeroplane and to the possibility of using a submarine to penetrate the ice barriers to points made inaccessible to ordinary vessels. intrepid airmen. Scientists and geographers eagerly await the reports of Another legal difficulty had to be the expedition, which has recently returned to civilisation. overcome on the return of the ’plane to The Austin Seven is the first car to be used in Polar exploration. Sydney, when an order of restraint was placed over the machine. This having been Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Qld), Sunday 29 removed, the old Southern Cross was prepared for its flight to England—the June 1930, page 28. An advertisement from the Advocate (Burnie, Tas.), https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9 Monday 2 June 1930, page 1. flight which ended in the forced landing of the plane on a mud flat in the north-west. 7676396 27

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

dives off the Polar ice cap and slides Thus did an Australian make the first 5 October 1930 beneath it. The Nautilus will be fitted with a aeroplane in 1884 and the first aero rotary UNDER THE POLE WITH WILKINS toboggan-like super-structure which will engine in 1889. Floating demurely beside Dewey’s enable it to slide along beneath the At the time his ideas and models were historic flagship Olympia in the back underside of the ice cap under its own laughed at by his fellow countrymen, but channel of the Navy Yard here is a little red power. abroad they received the attention and submarine that may become one of the most Pneumatic drills, which will be mounted respect that they merited. A deputation of historic craft in the world within the next in the head of a telescoping conning tower, German scientists came all the way from two years. will be capable of penetrating 13ft of ice, Munich to see his models in Sydney, and Sir Hubert explained. Explosives also will they were so impressed with them that be carried along for the purpose of breaking when they returned to the Fatherland the the ice at intervals. models went with them, to a place of honour in the Munich Museum. PROVISION FOR YEAR’S STAY. That was is 1910, when the world was “But we may not have to use the ice- still at peace, but, sadly, there is an breaking device a great deal,” he said. epilogue. Hargraves’ son was killed in the “Photographs taken by Admiral Richard E. war, and the connection between the Byrd and by the Amundsen expedition enemy’s aerial success and his part in the indicate that the Arctic ice cap is not a solid development of it so preyed on the old one. Cracks in the ice and patches of clear man’s mind that he died of a broken heart water are shown in July, 1915. “Surface ships could not make it, His plans were also sought (in 1900) by however, and I am confident that the the Wright brothers of America, the submarine is the best possible craft to use.” pioneers of aviation in that country, and Sir Hubert said that preliminary tests of the adopted by them in the construction of the Nautilus will be held off the Maine coast famous Wright Biplane which is credited next winter. with being the first heavier-than-air By summer the expedition will be ready machine to fly with a pilot. for the trip from Spitsbergen to free water This flight was made by the brother, in the Bering Sea, near Cape Lisbon, on the Wilbur, on December 17, 1903, over a Siberian side. The explorer expects the trip distance of 260 yards. to require about 60 days, including a long Hargraves was the first to achieve success Sir Hubert Wilkins. stop at the Pole itself for scientific with his experiments, but he was not the The submarine is the 0-12, which soon observations. only Australian who succeeded in will be converted into the Nautilus, after Although the cruise will be conquering the air. In December, 1909, Jules Verne’s brainchild (writes T. J. approximately 2100 miles, the length of his George A. Taylor made 29 flights at O’Connell. United Press correspondent flight with the late Carl Ben Eielson from Narrabeen Beach, New South Wales, in a from Philadelphia, U.S. A.). Point Barrow to Spitsbergen, the Nautilus motor-less biplane, 28ft. long, which he had Captain Sir George Hubert Wilkins, will be fuelled for 7000 miles. Provisions invented and built himself. internationally famous Australian Arctic for a one-year stay in the Arctic will be About the same time, too, another young explorer, is having the little submarine carried. Sydneysider in Reg Williams was dreaming remodelled with the idea of making the Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Qld), Sunday 5 of aerial flight, and a few years later, just dream of seafaring men for centuries come October 1930, page 19. before the war, he built a glider out of true. He plans to cruise in the Nautilus from https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9 bamboo and cloth and flew from one of the the eastern to the western hemisphere, 8210587 slopes of the famous Razorback Mountain, under the polar ice cap. near Picton. Hundreds of daring seamen of different 30 November 1930 He crashed on landing, smashing his machine. Lack of time and money nations have for centuries attempted to Mankind Emulates the Birds prevented him from furthering his force the North-west Passage. All have Flight without the Aid of a Motor — The failed. Most of them lost their lives, and experiment, but his early training stood him Glider — Australian Prominence in its in good stead on the outbreak of hostilities literally hundreds of vessels have been Development crushed to matchwood by the Arctic ice- when he was one of the first to qualify for a Glider flying seems to have caught the pilot’s certificate and participate in active floes while attempting the passage. fancy of the world. In England, Europe and flying with the Royal Air Force in England America the craze has taken on, clubs have and France. REMODELLING SCHEME. been formed, and thousands have learned to Sir Hubert, who was the first to fly from At the termination of hostilities Williams fly through the air in their motor-less maintained his interest in aeronautics, and one hemisphere to the other via the North machines, gaining altitude with the aid of Pole, already has begun the preliminary he was one of the first to attempt a flight the air currents or dropping lightly to earth from England to Australia, setting out from work of remodelling the submarine. As he when impetus had given out. In the Eastern is a British subject he had to lease the 0-12 the Old Country with Captain G. H. States, too, interest has been created, and Wilkins (now Sir Hubert Wilkins) and through the American firm of Danenhower now here in the West two young men have and Lake for the nominal rental of one Lieut. G. H. Potts in a Blackburn Kangaroo built their own machine and made the first in November, 1919. dollar a year. glider flight. Cost of remodelling the vessel will be In the recent local glider flight made by Mr. Harry Baker in a machine built by approximately £36,000. He expects to start his expedition early next summer, probably Messrs. Gil Ford and Ted Kinnear from in May. plans supplied by Mr. A. Rockingham, of Cooperating enthusiastically with Sir the Vacuum Oil Co., a measure of success Hubert in his daring project is Simon Lake, was achieved. The machine, dragged veteran inventor and manufacturer of behind a motor track, lifted easily to a submarines and deep-sea diving devices. height of about 20ft. and flew for a hundred Lake himself is anxious to make the cruise, yards when the drag of the rope brought it but his advanced age—he is past 60—bars down. It landed gracefully and safely. him. His partner, Sloan Danenhower, however, will be master of the Nautilus when she 28

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day

high building could be utilised to give ceiling. Thus the submarine will follow the necessary lift. unevenness of the ceiling and be kept free Even the cumulus clouds were brought from collisions.” into use, it being discovered that air Sir Hubert said that among other things currents around their face gave the same the expedition would study ocean depths, effect as those up the side of a hill. direction and force of currents, animal and Steadily the secrets of gliding were mineral content of water, bottom samples, learned, and it was by the use of them that gravity observations, weight of earth crust, an American was able to keep aloft for over magnetic variations, [and] comparison of 14 hours and a German was able to fly 100 magnetic and gyroscope compasses. miles and win a trophy offered by the British Gliding Association at a recent INTERESTING INTERVIEW. THE LOCALLY BUILT GLIDER Inter-national Gliding Competition held in During his stay in San Francisco Sir

Germany. Hubert was interviewed on the radio by The machine has a wing span of 36ft. and a Just what the limitations of the glider are Harrison Holloway, of the Don Lee KFRC chord (width) of 6ft., and its weight, is is not known. In the words of an English station, of San Francisco. approximately 1101b. expert the possibilities are immense. Mr. Holloway introduce[ed] the famous The wings are built of “U” section metal, “In the near future it will be possible to explorer as the foremost in scientific with a tubular steel fuselage, and they are soar and glide not 100 miles but many achievements and in aviation. “He has covered with aeroplane cloth. They have a hundreds of miles,” he says. flown more miles in the Polar Regions than very high lift which gives a low stalling Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 30 any other man, and has covered 6000 miles speed flight was actually maintained at by air in the Antarctic,” said Mr. Holloway. about 15 miles per hour. November 1930, page 9. Plunging into his forthcoming submarine Controls are the same as in an ordinary https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5 venture, Sir Hubert said: “We will first aeroplane. Joystick and rudder bar, and 8636506 cross the Atlantic to England, and then according to Mr. Baker the machine is proceed to Germany and Spitsbergen. extremely sensitive to the touch. 31 December 1930 From Spitsbergen we expect to go to the There are many who question the value, UNDER POLAR ICE Bering Sea, and we will come into San of the glider, but it is only necessary to SUB-ARCTIC TRIP SIR HUBERT Francisco a year from now. The most stress the usefulness in training air-pilots to WILKINS’S PLANS. hazardous part of the venture is crossing the show this. A giant fish, with steel skin, an electric Atlantic—far more hazardous than crossing It gives air-sense and complete control of heart, and with scientists in its stomach, the Polar Regions. a plane with safety and economy. A crash is sailing slowly across the North Pole, its You see, there is always traffic on the fraught with comparatively little danger, dorsal fin always rubbing against the ice Atlantic, and consequently danger of and the damage of a machine costing £50 or ceiling of the Arctic Sea. Sir George Hubert collision, whereas in the Arctic Ocean there £60 is of little consideration compared with Wilkins, famous Australian explorer of both is practically no traffic, and thus little travel that of one worth upward of £1000. Polar Regions, evokes this fantastic picture danger. I do not anticipate any mechanical The steady progress of the powered plane when he discusses the submarine in which difficulty negotiating the undersea trip. has Distracted Attention from the he and seventeen others will attempt a No more than 18 men will compose the Motor-less Machine, but the air-mindedness daring undersea adventure without crew, and six will be engaged in scientific, of the world has called for a cheap form of counterpart in history, says the San work. I expect to leave Spitsbergen for the flying. Francisco correspondent of the Brisbane undersea journey on July 1. Spitsbergen is

Courier. the most accessible point to start from. Very Sir Hubert revealed the details of his little is known about these Arctic currents, proposed submarine voyage under the Polar but we expect to get some advantage from ice water from Spitsbergen to the Bering them in manoeuvring under the ice”. Sea, across the North Pole, scheduled to begin next July. NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTY. He was in San Francisco on the ferry “We do not expect any difficulty in approaching the Californian metropolis to making the undersea trip as I have never fulfil a lecture engagement to speak on seen the ice more than 25 miles square there “Flying to the Ends of the Earth.” U.S. and our drills will take care of any thickness Submarine 0-12, in which the trip will be sufficient to accommodate any man going negotiated, has been fitted out elaborately. above. There will be no mechanical Of the crew of eighteen men, twelve will difficulty as far as we can estimate. operate the boat and six will be engaged in Australia's First Glider scientific research. [Missing text] most unreadable. Taylor making a flight on Narrabeen Beach, near Sydney, The course, via the Pole to the Bering in 1909. Sea, is 2100 miles. The submarine will [The] DO-X, which I had the privilege to travel slowly, about 50 miles a day, and at see two years ago…is the most marvellous Thousands who have qualified as airmen the end of each 50-mile lap it will stop for at air schools are unable to indulge in their craft of its kind, and its performance is eight hours for scientific study. The entire remarkably good. It is as seaworthy as a hobby owing to the cost. The glider, voyage is estimated to take 42 days. however, meets their need, and in ship, and will ride an average storm, but not This will allow a few days’ halt at the any ocean storm on the Atlantic. The DO-X consequence it has been reviewed and North Pole. At every stop Sir Hubert will further developed. Clubs have sprung up will stand any ordinary storm, however. I broadcast messages to the world while the cannot say that it is a solution of that like mushrooms, and some wonderfully submarine is under the thick Arctic ice. The meritorious flights made. problem. It is an enormous craft, and antennae will be thrown up through holes in fascinates one directly it is seen.” The record for sustained flight was the ice, which will be bored by special bumped up from minutes to hours, and the drills. IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION. use of air currents to sustain altitude and other secrets of gliding were better “Am I well satisfied with my work at the ICE TWENTY FEET THICK. Poles? I am, but there is still some work to understood. It was found that alternation “I expect to find the ice from two to between the hot and cold air streams along be done in the North, and that must be done twenty feet thick, never thicker in the open with the submarine. Most of the submarine a seashore would keep a glider aloft, or that sea,” said Sir Hubert. “The dorsal fin of the the rising currents at the face of a cliff or crew have served on ships under naval submarine will always contact with the ice control. We hope to have constant 29

The Wilkins Chronicle A selection of Wilkins-related Trove articles, incorporating advertisements and cartoons from the day communication with San Francisco during our Arctic submarine expedition. No, we do not listen in over the radio for distant programmes when on Polar expeditions. We are too busy planning for the next day, but I distinctly remember when down in the Antarctic that we heard a description of a football match played in the Hollywood Bowl, in Southern California,” On his submarine trip under the ice at the North Pole Sir Hubert added that the fresh air problem would be solved when they came to the surface once a day. “I will be a passenger, more or less,” he said. “My captain will be an expert submarine navigator. Carri Peterson, radio man, who went to the South Pole with Commander Richard Byrd, will be my radio expert.” Daily Examiner (Grafton, NSW), Wednesday 31 December 1930, page 2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1 95613614

The crew of the Nautilus. *OSU Polar Archives [nautilus1].

On the deck of the Nautilus. *OSU Polar Archives [nautilus-8].

Nautilus at Port. *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins33_13_40]. On the ice during the Nautilus Polar Expedition. *OSU Polar Archives [nautilus-5].

Collecting waterduring the ‘Nautilus’ Expedition. *OSU Polar Archives [nautilus-7]. The Nautilus at sea. . *OSU Polar Archives [wilkins35_9_14].

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