ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 177, 25 July 1908, Page 5

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

(From Our Special Correspondent.*

LONDON, June Iβ. The only exploring force at present working in the South Polar regions is the party wintering at the western end of Ross's Great Ice Barrier under the leadership of Mr E. H. Shaekleton. In a few months' time, however, will be sailing Dr Jean Charcot, who. with the assistance of a substantial grant from the French Government, has organised an' expedition for the renewal of the work he commenced in 1604-5, off the west coast of Graham Land, to they south of Capo Horn. Recently Dr Chars cot, in company with Cat>tain Robert i Scott and one or two other office o*.' of the "Discovery," expedition, has been carrying out some interesting experiments with motor-sledges in a regr'on of the Alps, where the ice and snow conditions corresponded as nearly as possible with those on the surface of Ross's Great Ice Barrier. Dr Charcot is inclined to think that the Barrier is not a unique feature of the Antarctic regions, and that he may encounter similar ice-fields in the region south of the Pacific Ocean between Graham Land and King Edward VII. Land. The motorsJedjjos worked very satisfactorily in the recent trials, and high hopes are entertained that by their aid th<> expedition will succeed in far within the natural defences that guard the approaches to the Southern Pole. Dr Bruce's programme for the expedition, of which he recently announced the plans, is mainly concerned with oceanographical research work in the region south of the Atlantic Ocean. Extensive additions to knowledge in this field were secured by Dr Bruce, as leader of the Scottish Antarctic Expedition on board the Scotia, and among other results a considerable stretch of coast was laid down on the maps under the name of Coats Lands. The extension of knowledge of this coast both eastwards in the direction of Enderby Land, and westwards towards graham Land, also enters into Dr Bruce's programme. This in itself, in view of the ice conditions, is a considerable piece of work, and Dr Bruce may well be satisfied if he can carry it into execution without tho addition of the journey he suggests across the supposed Antarctic continent to the Ross Sea, a distance of something like two thousand miles.