A WELL-EQUIPPED EXPEDITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3898, 27 November 1928, Page 25

A WELL-EQUIPPED EXPEDITION.

SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON’S VIEW. WELLINGTON, November 20. Sir Douglas Mawson, of Antarctic fame, arrived in Wellington this morning from Sydney after a trip Home. Whilst in England he made investigations in regard to a suitable ship and equipment for carrying on further coastal surveys in the South Australian region, a matter which he hopes to see finally adjusted during the comhig year. Sir Douglas Mawson said that there was no question but that Commander Byrd's expedition might be expected to return with an immense amount of valuable information relating to the Ross Sea area and the land to the east of it. Very valuable results should accrue because of the splendid equipment and good management that was evident.- The Wilkins expedition, on the- other hand, was limited in its personnel and equipment. The leader proposed to extend operations ove r the adjacent parts of Antarctica from his base on Deception Island, his planes being equipped with floats so that they could take off from the water. Although operaing from an island a hundred miles or sc from, the mainland, he expected to b< able to lay depots by air in Grahamsland and to extend operations further into the unknown. From the reports received it was indicated that Wilkins had in mind a flight from Grahamsland right through to the Rcss Sea. “If this is so,” commented Sir Douglas Mawson, “ it will be a very serious undertaking, but if it comes off, of course it will be be a most creditable performance.” It was not likely that the Wilkins expedition would be able to accumulate a great deal of information of scientific value owing to its limitations, added Sir Douglas, although it might be able to chart some of the unknown coastline.