ANTARCTIC PROBLEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21161, 19 April 1932, Page 9

ANTARCTIC PROBLEMS.

PROPOSED EXPEDITION. DISCOVERIES THE OBJECT. VAST UNKNOWN REGION. LONG FLIGHT PROJECTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received April 18, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK. April 17. The American Geographical Society announced to day that tentative plans had been completed for an expedition intd the Antarctic in the winter of 1933-1934, headed by Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth, who flew to the North Pole with Amundsen, and Mr. Bernt Balchen. They propose to attempt to "bisect" by aeroplane the area as the Antarctic Continent.

The expedition probably will leave New York in September, 1933, and proceed to a base at Framlieim, Bay of Whales, via Australia. The flight will be made in an easterly direction across the whole of the unknown region separating the Ross and Weddell Seas, a distance of about 1450 miles. The explorers will return to their base without landing.

The proposed course follows directly between the Queen Maud Mountains, King Edward VII. Land and Marie Byrd Land. The first 1200 miles lies completely over uncharted regions until in sight of Filchner Shelf on the borders of the Weddell Sea.

The explorers will photograph all the prominent features of the land covered, record the weather conditions, and take note of the character of the ice surface. Thus they will be able to supply data and detailed groundwork for use by any future expeditions. It is hoped that the explorers will answer the important question whether the great ocean indentations forming the Weddell Sea on one side, and the Ross Sea on the other, continue as a trough, perhaps below the sea-lcvcl, dividing the Antarctic Continent into two rugged land masses, or whether the mountains on Graham Land continue across the continent, joining the Queen Maud Range. The expedition is to be purely for discovery purposes. Probably it will carry a dozen men, and the leaders hope to return to America by May, 1934. Mr. Balchen is negotiating for the construction of a special aeroplane.