THE SOUTH POLE. ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1908, Page 3

THE SOUTH POLE. ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

DR. CHAKCOTT'S EXPEDITION. t — — * (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 3rd January. So much interest is felt in New Zealand regarding Antarctic exploration that I feel sure some particulars will be acceptable concerning the preparations for the Antarctic expedition which is being organised by Dr. Jean Charcott, the son of the famous doctor who himself led a successful expedition in the Antarctic some time ago. The preparations are well in hand, and the explorer himself is busily engaged in making all the necessary "arrangements. deferring to his plans, Dr. Charcott says : "We hope to be able to start on our journey in July, and our- intention is to be absent for a period of two years. In view of contingencies, however, we shall have with us sufficient provisions to last three years. Our expedition is bent on scientific work. (X course> we shall try to get as near to the Pole as possible, but if we fail we shall do everything possible to cover as much as we can of the Antarctic Continent and to bring back with us as much information as we can acquire. There can be no doubt that the best route to the Pole is by way of the Ttoss Barrier, but this we regard as belonging to English explorers, and I do not propose to trespass on other people's grounds. Much better and more important work can be done in a matter of this kind by friendly co-operation, and I am happy to be able to say that I have received valuable advice and cooperation from Captain Scott and Dr. Bruce in making my preparations. THE EQUIPMENT. "On reaching the^Antarctic it is my plan to return to our old grounds in Graham Land, and endeavour to reach Alexander Land, where we hope to find a barrier similar to that of llo'ss's. We should then endeavour to go as far south as possible, or 'to follow as near as practicable to King Edward's Land. An important part of our equipment will be motor-sledges, which arc being generously built by the Marquis de Dion. With these we shall make experiments in the Alps during this winter. Of course the geographical success of our expedition will depend upon the ics condition and upon what we shall find, but Graham and Alexander Lands are vexy rich lands for scientific research. The ship for the expedition's being built at St. Malo, and in her designs •wo have been greatly helped by the advice of Dr. Bruce, the late commander of the Scottish expedition. The ship will be specially strong in view of tho ice pressure, and will be of barquentine rig, with compound engines of 550-horse power. She is to be 135 ft in length, with a beam of 50ft, and will carry ""23o tons of coal and 100 tons of provisions, sufficient to last for three years. The crew wilf consist of 22 men, ten^of whom were members of my last oxpeditioii. The scientific staff, in addition to myself, will number three naval officers, two zoologists, one geologist, and one scientist -for magnetic and photographic work. With regard to the funds for tho expedition, the French Chambers have already voted 500,000 franc 3, while another cum of equal amount will also be voted by' Parliament. Private subscriptions have already yielded 65,000 francs, and I am endeavouring to get a further 85 ; 000 'francs. The Academy of Sciences h^s prepared 'our scientific programme, and the Commission of Missions of the Ministry of Public Instruction has drawn up a very favourable report on the subject of our proposed journey. The Marine Department is giving the necessary coal, and a very valuable collection of scientific instruments, whilo the Oceanographical Institute of Paris, founded by the Prince of 'Monaco, is also helping me." WRECK OF THE AUSTRAL. Tho following particulars have been receivod regarding the Argentine Antarctic ship Austral, which, has bepn wrecked during a gale on the Uruguayan coast : — "Tho Austral, which was formerly the vessel of the French Antarctic oxpedition, was built for Dr. Charcott in 1904, and was sold by him to the Argentine Government. This year it was intended to fit her with new boilers and engines in readiness for a journey south. In tho middle of November she was being prepared for the voyage, and it was thought likely she would take Dr. Bruce and Messrs. Lindsay and Bee. It was intended to set up a new Antarctic station at Wandel Island, Graham Land. Theye y circumstances of her loss is most unfortunate, this being the third attempt made by the Argentine Meteorological Office to set up a station on this island. All the valuable instruments, etc., must have been lost. The Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory had helped to get together tho equipment for Mr. Walter G. Davis, of the Argentine Meteorological Office. The Ortis Sands, on which the Austral was wrecked, is a treacherous shifting bank in the estuary of the River Plate, quite close to Buenos Aires, and this ship is by no means the first vessel to have been wrecked there. It would seem, therefore, that the Austral had only just left port on her Antarctic journey. The disaster must delay the establishment of the Wandel Island station for at least another twelve months. The Uruguay will probably be sent out to relieve Mr. Angus Rankin's party at Scotia Bay, South Prkneys, and to convey there the new staff for the coming year. Mr". Macdougal, who is in South Georgia, will probably bo relieved later on by one of the Argentine Fisheries Company's boats."