THE QUEST SAILS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 69, 18 September 1930, Page 22

THE QUEST SAILS

BAND OF EXPLORERS

MAPPING AIR EOUTE

Fifteen of the youngest explorers who ever left Britain for uncharted regions have sailed from the Thames in tho Quest, to the accompaniment of cheers and shrieking sirens (says the "Daily Telegraph").

Tho average age of the band is 23, and it is expected they will be away from civilisation for fifteen months.

They form the British Arctic AirEouto Expedition, which has bceu equipped under the auspices of tho Boyal Geographical Society for the purpose of exploring the Arctic ice-cap of Greenland, with a view to establishing an all-British air route across the Arttie to Canada. This is the shortest route to Canada, and this definite step has been taken to test its feasibility. The leader of the expedition is Mr. H. G. "Watkins, and each of his fourteen companions is a specialist. Tho expedition will establish a base camp on the south-eastern coast and a station on top of the ice-cap. From the main base dog sledge expeditions will go into the interior and map out the routo and make arrangements for petrol dumps. When the route has been surveyed an experimental flight will be made from Winnipeg to England. Mr. Watkins said in an interview: "We have an important mission to perform for a still young service, and I think we shall be successful." CROWDED. There was not an inch of room to spare in the little Quest when she sailed. The decks were covered with wood for huts, seaplane floats, aeroplane wings, packing cases, and all manner of necessary impedimenta. The hold was packed with a year's supply of food, including six tons for the dogs, which will be picked up at tho Faroe Islands. Delicate instruments given by the Government and various departments were also carried. There are two aeroplanes and two speed boats and sledges. On board also was a turkey that made friends with everybody—all unconscious of the fact that its purpose in the expedition is to provide a Christmas dinner for the explorers in tho barren wastes of Greenland. Friends and relatives of the expedition, together with Sir Sefton Braneker, Director of Civil Aviation, gathered at St. Katherine's Dock to bid farewell to the white-painted Quest, which had ■bunting- flying from stem to stern. Captain Schjelderup, a Norwegian, who bought the ship after the last Shaekleton Expedition, is taking the party to Greenland. He will return in about two months' time. The crew of thirteen are Norwegians.