TO ANTARCTICA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1192, 29 July 1911, Page 5

TO ANTARCTICA.

.< DR. MAWSON'S SHIP SAILS. AEROPLANE TESTED. By TclcEraDh— Press Asspciation-CopyriEM (Eev. July 28, 9.55 p.m.) London, July 28. The eliip Aurora, recently purchased by Dr. Mawsuu for his Antarctic Expedition, sailed at midnight on her voyago k> Australia. She is 1o call at Shuorncss to adjust her compasses, and will coal at CarTho dogs wero safely shipped. Lieutenant Xiunis, assistant (surveyor, and Br. Mere, tho geologist, aro tho only members of. tho expedition failing in tlio Aurora. Tho officers and crew number twonty-Gvo men.

Lieutenant Watkins and Professor Bickertou will sail in tho P. and 0. Liner China with tho aeroplane, which has been severely tested at Brooklands, tho testa proving highly satisfactory. TO THE POLE BY AEROPLANE. Tho Aurora is a sailing steamer, fitted with an auxiliary screw, and is slightly smaller than tho Terra Nova, but her displacement is larger by nearly 1110 tons than that of the Nimrod. Tho vessel was built by ■Stephens, of Dundee, in 187G; her length 'is 1U5.2, breadth 30.0, and depth 18.9.

Lieutenant Ilugh E. Walkins, of tho Essex Regiment, a certified airman of the Royal Aero Club, has been chosen to pilot tho aeroplane. The machine used will bo an R.E.P. mononlane, the inventor and builder of which is M. Robert Esnanlt-Pelterie, a prominent French aeroplane desigiie.r. The monoplane has been chosen for the expedition principally on account of its portability. It can ha nssembled ready for fight in less than half an hour.

The machine will be- employed for nianmnking aijd survey work, and also in connection with ,o. final dash to ibo Pole. It will be llown in stages from ouo to another of the depots established by an advauoo party. When the depot furthest south is readied a maximum supply of petrol will be taken on bonrd, and an attempt mado to reach the Pole and return to tho starting-point in a single flight. It is hoped that, carrying a pilot and passenger, the monoplane will bo ablo to remain in the air long enough to cover a distance of 250 miles.