ASSAULT ON EVEREST.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 86, 11 April 1922, Page 5

ASSAULT ON EVEREST.

LARGE PARTY THROUGH TIBET. HTLLMEN ANXIOUS TO HELP. LONDON. MarWi 28. Telegraphing from Darjeeling on March 22. Brigadier-Oneral C. (■■ Bruce, leader of the expedition to scale Mount Kverest. stated that a. party consisting, in addition to the leader, of MeutenantColonel E. L. Strutt. Major K. S. Nor-1 ton. Dr. A. W. Wakefleld, Captain c<. ; Bruce. Mr. G. L. Mallory. Dr. 'I. Howard Somervell, Dr. T. G. Longslafi". and Captain JJoel. was expected to leave for Tibet or, March 26. Captain George Finch, of Australia. and Captain Crawford, of the Indian army, would remain to superintend the transport of the important oxygen outfit, -which had not yet arrived. "The expedition will thus be '<>iisiderably larger than that of 1021." continued General Bruce. "A stronger party of purely British mountaineers has never before participated in exploration. "Yet success depend? on transport in order to establish well-provisioned camps in the high altitudes. The hillmen have responded magnificently to the call for porter?. They underwent severe hardship? in 1021. yet they are keenly competing for inclusion. U i< a real difficulty ,to satisfy the eager claimants. "The greatest interest has been displayed by tho inhabitant? of Darjeeling. They entertained the expedition and public officials, representatives of the rlillmen's Association, and leading •Brahmins exhorted the porters to do their utmost for the credit of their respective districts. "Stores are being pushed on as they reach Calcutta. Owing to the size of the party and the proved magnitude of the undertaking, the outfit is far heavier than in 1921. Tt is hoped that the whole expedition will assemble -at Pharidzong on April 6 ready to enter Tibet. "Unfortunately the whole of the oxygen apparatus is still on the high seas. This however. does not prejudice the earlier work, for example?. the training of poTters in the use of ropes and ice axes can be pushed on at the advanced basc3 in Rongbuk and East Rongbuk valleys. "Though on the Western Himalayas there is probably now 10 feet of snow, practically preventing transport before the beginning of May. the road through Tibet to this part of"the Western Himalayas lies open to animal transport during the whole of j,he winter. Many mule s bring wool from Tibet to Bengjij early in the spring, returning comparatively without loads. Thus we have been enabled to engage these mules, the owners being glad to earn a little extra money."