OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14600, 26 February 1913, Page 9

OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION.

THE SOUTH MAGNETIC POLE. DR. MAWSON'S PLANS. Dr. Mawson's expedition has been down south for about fourteen months (said the Sydney "Daily Telegraph" of Tuesday last). It was purely of a scientific nature, but the discovery of mineral wealth was considered probable, and investigations wero to be mado also in regard to whaling and sealing. Dr. Mawson had earmarked for exploitation a stretch of about 2000 miles of coast-line between Cape Adaro and Gaussberg. This field lies due south of Australia, and less than 2000 miles from its shores, tho latitudes being from 70 degrees to 65 degrees south. In other words, tho latitude corresponds to that of tho north of Iceland, in Europe, or of part of the Yukon Valley in Alaska. It bounds, in fact, tho most northerly lands of Antarctica, with tho exception of tho outjutting portion of Graham Land, to tho south of Capo Horn. Professor David stated last year that ■ in all probability its climate would, though severe, bo quite compatible with permanent occupation by man. However, this question will bo settled by the experiences of the expedition. The distance from Australia at its nearest points is about equal to that betweon Melbourne and Perth. The original discoverer was the French navigator, Dumont d'Orville, who sailed from Hobart early in 1810, and was back there in seven weeks, having sailed along some hundreds of miles of tho coast, landed a party, and named the part still known as Adelio Land. In the interim none had effected a landing there, and tew had even sighted tho coast. In outlinng the plans of his expedition, Dr. Mawson stated that practically every member of tho land party would ho a.si -ialist in a particular branch of science, most of them being graduates of Australian and New Zealand universities. It was intended to land at intervals three separate shoro parties, each equipped w.th the necessities for wintering. It was their special desire to accomplish a completo geographical and magnetic survey between Cape Adare and Gaussberg. This would be effected by sledging parties proceeding along tho coast on either hand from the wintering stations. One inland party would 1.0 despatched to the Magnetic Pole, coming in on it from the opposite direction to the approach mado by the Shackleton expedition. By this journey it was hoped to complete the magnetic data that wero wanting in the vicinity of the South Magnetic Pole. The s!ed._ing journey would be accomplished by man hauling, dog-teams, and motor sledges. Sledging over sea ico in the early spring might ho possible: such journeys would be accomplished with seal meat and blubber as food, collected en route. Scientific knowledge of this area was entirely wanting. Tlio magnetic charting would be of value to navigation. Tho want of geological data from there was keenly felt, especially in Australia, where there was a dependence of the local geology upon that of Antarctica. Biological researches must bo rich in new discoveries. It might be that there was the habitat of some of the rare types of seals and Antarctic birds. _ertainly the Southern Ocean, in mat vicinity, abounded in whale and seal life, and if they could estab'ish convenient harbours or discover sub-Ant-

arctic islands thero was sure to follow commercial enterprise on these lines. Ihe meteorology of this area was, ho said, very important in connection witti stuppmg a l on g tko southern coast ot Australia and .Sew Zealand. An ettort would bo made to discover whether a deep gulf existed to the west of Gaussberg. The winter was to be spent in oceanographic work on the lines adopted by the Prince of Monaco. Deep-sea trawlings from Itetween ->A> and 2000 fathoms would bo made in tiiis hitherto unexplored sea, and almost every species brought up must bo new to science. Beforo leaving for the Antarctic, Dr. Mawson, in describing tho scheme ot his proposed operations in what may bo termed Australian Antarct-ca (as it is directly south of Australia) said they would extend from Cane Adare to Gaussberg, in Kaiser Wilho'.m Land (named by Gauss in 1901). This represents a sailing distance of about 2400 miles. All this lengthy coast-lino is unexplored. Tho small port.ons ot I coast-line filled in on the map were sighted in tho distance by various expeditions and Antarctic navigators. These chartings lack reliability, as no landing was ever made upon the coast except by the expedition under Dumont d'Urv.llo. In lbiu Wilkes coasted along and mnnped a continent ivith high mountains close to the coast, but as instancing tho reliability that may be placed on his d >ta. it may be mentioned that Ross afterwards sailed over some of those high mountains! Dr. Mawson continued: —"We intend to .send one party to the South Magnetic Pole from tho north coast. In Shackleton's expedition we came to it from the east. In t\m way we wi 1 join up with our old traverse, and thereby complete a geological section across that corner of the Antarctic Continent. There are active volcanoes along the coast which we intend to visit, also three uiion islands. We intend to establish several winter quarters along the coast, as the ship could not skirt the whole'of it—she would bo blocked by the ice. It will he the duty of the parties loft at these huts to make long sledging journeys on each side of the winter quarters, nnd knit up the whole of the coast line. In this way, tho whole of that area will bo thoroughly explored, and our survey will enable us to fill up all tho blanks in the map. The expedition will start from Sydney, Melbourne, or Hobart, according to j the amount of support wo receive. In order to economise our stock of coal, we shall employ sails, and, taking advantage of the 'roaring forties and shrickin.fr fifties,' call first at Cape Adare. Wo shall leavo a sm-dl party there, but tho main party will be left at Adelie Land."