ACROSS ANTARCTICA

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1932, Page 5

ACROSS ANTARCTICA

WATKIN’S POLAR EXPEDITION A TWO YEAR PROGRAMME. (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 18. Among the many projects of the Watkin’s Antarctic Expedition, announced on January 11, is a fifteen hundred miles sledge journey over unknown country from Weddell Sea to /Ross 'Sea, on which journey •tile late Sir Ernest Shackleton' ".was unsuccessful in 1914. Watkins, who will be accompanied by Courtauld’s rescuers, RymiU and Chapman, and also by R:1 y and lour others, will he the first one to take the British flag across the South Polar Continent. He hopes to determine whether the unchartxred tracts consist of land or of a great sea connecting Weddell and Ross seas.

The expedition plans to leave England in the coming Autumn. It is to have South Georgia at the end of December next, and will land the trans-continental party at Luitpoldland in January, 1933 It will establish a base from which an aeroplane, fitted with skis will make reconnaissances.

The trip across the Continent will probably be made in the following October. Watkins is confident that with specially-trained dogs, and help from a plane jt will be possible to cross to Amundsen's Ross Sea base in four and n-half months and to rejoin the ship in March, 1934. This wculd be the longest journey minus depots ever undertaken, Watkins says they will be at least two years in the Polar regions. H~ i literals to establish a proper meteorological station, from which they should obtain data of immense value to Australia. Watkins is only twenty-four years of age. BYRD’S PROGRAMME. FOR FORTHCOMING TRIP. NEW Y r ORK, January 16. Admiral Byrcl, addressing the Explorers’ Club revealed that on his forthcoming expedition to the Antarctic, he intends to establish a sub-base in ’the interior of the Continent at the foot of the Queen Maude Mountain range, and to spend the Polar winter there in making scientific observations. He disclosed that he has already started active preparations for his next trip. He remarked : “My friends; hav.e pm-1 mised a ship for it, and already I have thirty-five tons of assorted equipment at the Boston. Navy Yard. The chief objectives being undertaken are to determine whether there is a channel between the Ross ;Sea and Weddell Sea, and to explore by air the unknown area east of the South Pole. He added: “l won’t announce when w 8 are going. . tVe are busy now with the scientific data of our last trip, and do not want to set a date for the new trip until we have finished with the old one.' LONDON-INDIA run. EXTENSION TO AUSTRALIA SOUGH 1 LONDON, January I’d. Sir Walter Nicholson, a director oi Imperial Airways, i s visiting Australia in connection with the proposal to allow Imperial Airways to continue the Lon-don-India air service to Australia. . e said that he intended to ascertain wlu-ther the Commonwealth would provide a subsidy, without which, ie Karachi-Austral ui link would be impossible. He is returning to England later through New Zealand. COL. BRINSMEAD IMPROVING. SINGAPORE, January 18. The condition of Colonel Brinsmead rip able to take shoit motor" mns"' and is anxious to fly to .Australia with Kingsford Smith, but tie doctors forbade him.