POLAR EXPLORATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14001, 6 September 1907, Page 5

POLAR EXPLORATION

AN EXPEDITION LOST.

Prees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, OTTAWA, September 4. A message from Winnipeg report's that Mr Mikkeleen's Arctic expedition lias been lost.

{An expedition, called the Anglo-Ameri-oan, led by Mr Einar Mikkelsen, started on May 20, 1906, in tho Duchess of Bodford with the object of carrying on two'or threo years' work in tho Arctic regions. Advorso conditions hindered progress, and tho expedition did not reach Port Barrow until August 15, 1906.]

LIEUTENANT SHACKLETON'S EXPEDITION. : SYDNEY, September 5. English advices state that. Professor David, of the Sydney University, has arranged to accompany tho Shackleton Antarctic expedition to' King Edward the Seventh Land,

The Nimrod, which will convey Lieutenant Shackloton's party to the South 'Polar regions, left England for New Zealand about a month ago. The expedition will bo under tho command of Lieutenant E. H. Shackleton, who accompanied Captain R; P. Scott on bis record Antarctic sledge journey during tho historic expedition of 1901-4. v Tho expedition will be financed by several subscribers who are interested in Antarctic exploration, and it is hoped that othor subscribers will bo found among tho public so that, the expedition may not bo hampered in any way on its financial side. As regards personnel, tho expedition is very well equipped. Lieutenant Shackloton's por."Kraal knowledgo of tho winter conditioro of tho part, of tho Antarctic selected as tho baso ot _ operations is an invaluable ■asset, and with him goes a very efficient staff.

It lias been decided to fix the base of operations on King Edward Land, the most, easterly point reached by the expedition of 1901-4. This point is equally woll "rilacotl as ,regards the Pole, and has tlio advantage of being now ground. Into this, area Lieutenant Shackleton will penetrate by _ tliroo distinct sledge expeditions, in 1 which he will bo nided by tho use of a. motor car specially built for the work by Arrol-Johnston, of Paisley. The car is constructed to withstand extremo cold and will be operated by a spirit which will work satisfactorily in low temperatures; it is provided with three different sets of wheels for uso on surfaces 'of different softness. Great hopes are entertained of lis value for traction purposes, but. it is recognised that its employment is an experiment, and tho chances of the expedition's success are far from being centred in any such, novel means of locomotion. The U6e of Siberian ponies in tho Antarctic is ako in tho nature of an experiment, but tho hardiness and strength they have developed on the bitterly cold plains of Eastern Siberia, whoro they are accustomed Jo live in the open all through the winter, justify the hope that the experiment will bo a success. Lieutenant Shackleton was to accompany the Nimrbd as far as Madeira, and rejoin the ship at Lyttelton in Novoinbor. The united expedition will start about- tlio first week of the now year, reaching its baso, it is honed, about February, when the party of 12 will be landed. They will make sledgo expeditions in three directions, and after a year's work will await the return of the Nimrod, re-ombark, and sail Homewards along the coast.