ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 19

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

LONDON, August 12. Reuter's Paris correspondent reports that Dr Charcot's polar ship Pourquoi Pas will sail from Havre on Saturday on a three years' expedition to the Antarctic.

PARIS, August 15.

Dr Charcot's Antarctic expedition proceeds first to Terre Loufcet and Alexandera, the first land, then south-west in order to fix the southern limits of the Eastern. Pacific. Finally it will try to join the British expedition under Lieutenant Shackletou. Dr Charcot expects to be absent for two years.

The three-masted sailing vessel Pourquoi 3?ajs was launched at Saint Ma-lo on Mar«b 18. Her designers were greatly helped by the advice of Dr Bruce, the commander of the Scottish expedition. The ship is specially strong, in view of the ice pressure, and is of barquentine^ig, with compound engines of 550 horse-power. She is 135 ft in length, with a beam of 30ft, and will carry 230 tons of coal and 100 tons of provisions, sufficient to last for three years. The crew will consist of 22 men, 10 of whom were employed in the last French expedition. There will be a scientific staff of three naval officers, two zoologists, one geologist, and one expert in magnetic and photographic work, beside the leader himself. The expedition will devote itself primarily to scientific work. '" Of course," Dr Charcot explains, "wo shall try to get as near to the pole as possible, but "if we fail we shall do everything possible to cover as much as we can of the Antarctic continent, and to bring back with us. as much information as we can acquire. There can be no doubt that the best route to the Pole is by way of the Ross Barrier, but this w© regard as belonging to the English explorers, and I do not propose to treppa^s on other people's ground. Much better and more important work can be done in a matter of this kind by friendly co-opera-tion, and I am happy to be able to say that I have i-eceived valuable advice and assistance from Captain Scott and Dr Bruce in making my preparations. On reaching the Antarctic it is my plan to return to our old grounds in Graham Land, and endea\our to reach Alexander Land, where we hope to find a barrier .similar to Rosa's. We should then endeavour to go as fa.r south as possible, or to follow as near as practicable to King Edward's Land." On the land journeys usa will be made of motor ele-dgos, which axe being manufactured by the Marquirf Do Dion, and will be presented by him to Dr Charcot. Thebe are to be tested on ico stretches of tho Alps before being shipped. The French Parliament will make two votes to the expedition, amounting to £24,000, and public subscriptions wili bring tho. total up to alxmfc £30,000. The Academy of Science . has drawn up the scientific programme, and a permanent commission connected with the Ministry of Public Instruction has reported very favourably on the general scheme of the expedition. Dr Charcot has received assistance also from the Oceanographical Institute of Paris, and from the Marine Department, the latter giving a supply of coal and the use 'of a valuable collection of scientific instruments.