POLAR EXPEDITION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 103, 3 May 1911, Page 5

POLAR EXPEDITION.

JAPANESE PUT UP A REMARKABLE RECORD. By Telegraph.— Pre»b Association.— Copyright. SYDNEY, 2nd May. Professor David considers that the Japanese expedition, in getting so far South in their ship at so late a data iv the season have put up a rather remarkable performance. COMMONWEALTH GRANT. MELBOURNE, 2nd May. A deputation has asked the Acting Federal Prime Minister, Mr. Hughes, for a contribution of £20,000, being half the cost of the Mawson Antarctic expedition. Mr. Hughes ■ replied sympathetically, and said Cabinet was considering tho matter. SOUTH AFRICA'S SUBSCRIPTIONS. CAPETOWN, 2nd May. Including tho Union Government's grant, South Africa has subscribed £1274 towards Captain Scott's Antarctic expe^ dition. LIEUTENANT FILCHNER'S EXPEDITION. PRINCE INSPECTS THE DEUTSCHLAND. (Received May 3, 9.10 a.m.) HAMBURG, 2nd May. Prince Henry of Germany inspected the German Antarctic exploring ellip Deutschland. The expedition supplies will cover a period of three and a half years. The expedition sailed for Btienos Aires on 7th May. [Lieutenant Filchner's scheme includes a traverse of tho continent between the Weddell and Ross Seas, one of the objects being to ascertain whether East and West Antarctica are united or ( oeparate. The expedition will leave Buenos Aires at the beginning of October via South Georgia and 'the Sandwich Islands to the Weddoll Sea. The route has been, chosen so as to allow of oceanographical research on the way. On arrival in the Weddell Sea it is proposed to establish a base station on -the eastern coast as far south as possible, with tho necessary equipment for a year's research. A party of ten men will be landed, of whom six — a geologist, a meteorologist, an astronomer, a doctor who is also a biologist, a cook t and a sailor — will stay in the station, while the remaining four will undertake a long sledge expedition into the interior of the South Polar Continent. Meanwhile tho ship will return to the Atlantic Ocean to carry out coastal observations and oceanographical work. The main geographical objects of the expedition are to determine the distribution of land and water, toestablish the coast line of the Antarctic continent, and to study the conformation and direction of the ice. On the oceaaographical side it is proposed to ■ make systematic observations of the temperature, the saltnees, and the oxygenation of the deep levels along certain lines in the Sargasso Sea. in the Brazilian current, and in tho high latitudes. Soundings will be taken on the swell between latitudes zero and 10 N., where uone such are at present available. Further soundings will be made in the Argentine basin and further south. Observations with regard to ocean currents will be carried out from an anchored boat. The meteorological section of the expedition will be fufiy equipped with apparatus for registering air pressure, temperature, moisture, and wind, cind magnetic observations will be made both at the base' station and on the sledging expedition, Tlw total cost of the expedition is oitlttuted afc Ju/4,000.]