ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25, 29 July 1911, Page 5

ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

SAILING OF THE AURORA. Bj Telegraph.— tress Association. -.Copyright, LONDON, 28th July. The ship Aurora, recently purchased by Dr. Mawson for hie Antarctic Expedition, bailed at midnight on her Voyage to Australia. She is to call at Sheernese to adjust her compasses, and will coal at Cardiff. The dogs were safely shipped. Lieutenant Ninnis, assistant surveyor, «and Dr. Mci% the geologist, are the only members of the' expedition sailing in the Aurora. The officers and crew number twenty-five men. Lieutenant Watkihs and Professor Bickerton will sail in the P. and 0. liner China with the aeroplane, which has been severely tested at Brooklands, the tests proving highly satisfactory. Dr. Douglas Maweon, who returned to Australia, trotn England by the Mor*a last week, to await the arrival of the Aurora, gave the press representatives further details concerning his contemplated trip to the Antarctic regions. "I really could not allow this opportunity of anAntarctir expedition to slip by," ho said. "Other nations were leady to proceed lo the coastline, and il, would be a matter 'for continual regreb to Australia, it foreign nations opened up the coastline* ao near our own territory. I purchased the veeeel Aurora, ahd Us equipment. At present there is somewhat of an overdraft, but the main cost of the expedition has been broken down, The cost of keeping the boat in commission, with the large body of men attached, however, was \sry great. However, I hope that, with the assistance of various energetiG committees in the Eastern States, money will be obtained. "I am taking a, Vickers monoplane with me. The landing party which will go with the (expedition numbers 25. Among _ them is Mr. WiMe, who was with Sir Erneet Shackleton and also with Cantain Scott. Another is Lieu tenant Ninnis, of the Royal Fusiliers, who will do surveying work and look after the eledg«s. Lieutenant Watkins, the Brooklands flying man, is joining the expedition to take charge of the monoplane. For ice work we have fle« cured an expert in Dr. Merz, a Wealthy Swiss, who won the ski jump championship in 1908. Most of the members of the party, however, are being chosen in Australia, by a committee composed of the leading scientists of Australia and New Zealand."