THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11826, 2 December 1901, Page 5

THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION.

PLANS AND PROSPECTS. AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. The Christeburch Press contains an interesting interview with Mr. Louis C. Bcrnacehi, F.R.G.S., who has arrived there. Mr. Bernac-chi, who is the physicist of the expedition, came from England via Suez, bringing with him the scientific instruments which are to be used during the visit to the Antarctic regions. He left London three week after the Discovery set sail for Capetown, and after spending over a fortnight in Melbourne, where the instruments were ad tested at the Observatory, he came cn to Christchurch, via the Bluff. Like all the members of the expedition, Mr. Bernaceh:, who, by the way, is an Australian, is quite a young msn, but his experience of polar exploration is already extensive. He was a member of the Southern Cross Antarctic expedition, which Sir George Ncwr.es organised in 1893, and which established a new farthest South" record. Mr. Ben lacchi said: "Something like £'50,000 was raised to fir out the Discovery, which is a brand new ship, built for the purpose. This expedition is supported by the Imperial Government, which contributed £•'•5.000 towards the cost, and supplied all the petty officers and bluejackets from the navy on full pay, and nearly all the officers. Two of the Discovery's officers are Royal navy reserve men; the rest have all b"en lent by the navy. There are only four civilians oil board—all scientists. In fact, although the Discovery is sailing under the mercantile flag, it is practically a naval expedition. Captain Scott, the commander of the Discovery, who is about 52, has had a very brilliant career in the navy. He was in charge of all those experiments held in the Channel a few years ago in connection with .he Marconi system of wireless telegraphy. Lieutenant Armitage, the second in command. was with the .Tnckson-Harnisworth expedition in the Arctic, and so was Dr. Koettlitz, our senior doctor and botanist. The expedition numbers 48 all told, and every man on board is an Englishman. It is true she can only steam about seven knots, but if the winds are favourable her sails will accelerate the speed. If we get away Irom Lyttelton about December 10. as we hope to do, we should reach the pack-ice in a fortnight, and if we are fairly fortunate we should get through the ice in about 10 days. The middle or the end of January should see us down at Wood's Bay. Last time, in the Southern Cross, we got to the ice-pack on the last day of the year, and got jammed in the ice for 48 days. Captain Scott will decide whether we will winter in Wood's Bay. But I think that is the most favourable .spot. I was there in the Southern Cross. It is a deep bay, like a fiord, and well sheltered from the ice-pressure. So far as we could investigate it ran in about 40 miles. I think that probably the living huts will be erected there, and the two observation huts for the scientists. These huts have been, specially made for the scientific instruments, of which we have a very fine equipment. We are taking a very fine type of self-recording magnetic instrument called the Eschenhagen—the very newest. These record on the one sheet photographically all the variations that arc taking place in the magnetic elements. The records will be, of course, not only of very great interest scientifically, but also of exceedingly great practical value, because they, will give us the variations taking place in all the magnetic forces down near the south magnetic pole. The records of the variations will cover a period. I hope, of at least 18 months, and possibly two 1 years."

"Wo arc taking a Milne seismograph," add Mr. Bernnechi, with a laugh, "so if you have any more earthquakes wo shall know all about them down there. It is an interesting instrument to us, because it will no absolutely the only connection we will have with the civilised world."

The conversation turned to the prospects of the expedition with regard to exploration. Mr. Bernacchi said he had no doubt whatever that they would beat the Southern Cross' farthest south accord easily. "Cape Adair," he explained, " where the Southern Cross expedition wintered, has a high range of mountains right round it, averaging 8000 ft in height. We found it quite impossible to get into the interior from there. At Wood's Bay, on the other hand, the land around is comparatively low, and I am fairly certain that there will be no difficulty in getting inland towards the magnetic pole, while a. party could be landed at Cape Crozier and go inland from there towards the geographical pole." "To you think the expedition can reach the South Pole ?" The question seemed to amuse the scientist. "1 don't see any great interest," he remarked, "in reaching "the geographical pole. It would be a very great feat, no doubt, but if we went to find the open sea a few hundred miles south of Mounts Erebus and Terror I think that would be a more interesting discovery, geographically. But I should say the south geographical pole is fairly easy of attainment. The explorers would have to carry everything, but the surface of the ice is very smooth, because, unlike the Arctic ice, it never thaws. It should be quite possible to cover 20 or 30 miles in a day's travelling of eight hours, with does and sledges. Travelling at that rate, and provided that you have a sufficient number of dogs and enough provisions— every pound of which you have to carry with you— think it possible you might reach the geographical pole. That is,", he added, "if the route is covered with ice the whole wav." In response to a request Mr. Bcrnacchi explained the theory he has formed regarding the Great Ice Barrier, the most surprising feature of the Antarctic world. The Southern Cross followed Ibis extraordinary wall of ice, 300 ft in height, for 370 miles without coming to the end of it. The old theory was that: this vast body of ico is moving slowly northwards from the pole. Mr. Bcrnacchi, however, contends that it is moving from west to east from the high mountains in Victoria Land, flowing gradually into the sea in the shape of an immense tonctie of ice. If this view be correct, and he claims that it is fairly established, it i-» possible that a vessel might reach the end of the " tongue." and. passing round turn into an open to the southward.

" [ think this is a p;reat expedition." eoneluded Air. Bernacchi, sponkintr with manifest enthusiasm. "It is beautifully equipped, and if we are successful, and the Herman expedition is successful —they are well equipped too—T don't think there will be very much more to know about the South Polar regions. The fact that the Germans are going, too, in a brand new ship will bo an additional stimulus for us. They have a fine equipment, and good men, and T think they will do good work, so we must not let tlmm bent us.

" Don't lie surprised," he laughingly concluded, "if the Germans find us waiting for them at (lie South Pole."