Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1914.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10891, 4 March 1914, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1914.

RECENT English files contain an account of Sir Ernest Shaokleton’s plana for bis Antarctic journey of next spring. In vew of the recent disasters at the South Polar Continent the proposed journey seems to be sufficiently hazardous. Assuming the Antarctic Continent to be a circle with the Pole as a centre Sir Ernest intends to enter at a point opposite South America and crossing the Continent from a point opposite Cape Horn, to emerge after passing the Pole about midway in the journey at tbe old base used by himself and Captain Scott in the Ross Sea, opposite ; New Zealand. There is a good landing for him in the Weddell Sea which South of Cape Horn forme a large bay, and at the exteme south end o this bay a previous German expedition discovered a good landing some years ago. He intends leaving Buenos Ayres in the Aurora, Dr. Mawson’a ship, and pushing as far sooth as 78 degrees. If the ice conditions are favourable a landing party of 12 men will be left behind by the ship, six of whom will accompany Shackleton to the Pole while the other six in two parties will explore the coast inland of the Weddell Sea. If weather conditions are not good the whole party will fix depots towards the Pole ready for the journey in 1915. After reaching the South Pole, the route will be followed slightly west of Scott’s route to the base or if it seems preferable along Amundsen’s track. A relief ship despatched from New Zealand will meet the party in Ross Sea and bring them home.

IT will be seen that this scheme presents more difficulties than have been present in previous journeys. In all other expeditions the way has been prepared in the previous season by laying, depots and these were ready with stores to reprovision the returning party. In this case the expedition will cut itself off from its base at once and has to trust entirely to what it can itself carry. Sir Ernest depends for the conveyance of his oommisariat on dog and aero plane sledges. From recent trials of aerial motor driven barges in England, he hinted that sledges equipped with aeroplanes and driven by aeroplane propellers, will have enough lifting power to prevent them sinking into the snow, and he ! hopes that these sledges will bear i SOOOlbs, weight and be propelled at the rate of 6 to 6 miles an hour. If all we read of the blizzards encountered in these regions be a quarter true, it would seem as if, the sladges may be lifted altogether out of their guardian’s control. However, he

intends having them thoroughly tested either in Siberia or Canada before starting. He will also carry wireless telegraphy so that assistance may be obtained in the event of a breakdown, and succour sent to meet him from bis base. Oapt. Dairs will command tbe Aurora. The second in command of the expedition will he Mr Frank Wild, a first class surveyor and Arctic explorer who was with Scott in 1901-4, and Shackleton in 1907-9, and also made the big journey with the Australian expedition a few years later. There will also be a trained geologist, biologist and physicist. The earliest news of complete success will be received in May, 19.15. An Austrian expedition also starts at the same time and from the same base and we may hear something of the expedition from them as tney propose to proceed to the Pole on a parallel line, and their arrangements may be somewhat different as to tbe movements of their landing parties.