DECLARATION OF LONDON.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 91, 7 June 1911, Page 5

DECLARATION OF LONDON.

CABLE N EWt

By Elec! rif Tvb'ura|:!i—C'opyrigb l ijitid M’ivss Ar-MM-lation.

. g , BRITAIN BETTER OFF. London, June G. Lord 1 Limlley, in a letter to the newspapers,; • states: “Careful study of the Declaration convinced rat, firstly, that we arc no worse of! as belligerents or neutrals if ratified; secondly, that if ratified we on the whole are much bettor off than if unratifled. but (he Declaration should he ratified upon a clear understanding of its interpretation.” THE RYAZAN. A TOTAL WRECK. Tokio, June G. The Ryazan is a total wreck. The •argo of tea. insured for £IOO,OOO, was lost, the veto rill. A LORD’S DECLAMATION. London, June G. The Earl of Hilshnry, speaking at Eg gas ford, said that unless the Veto Bill was so amended as to remove all oh 1 actionable features, and all its features were objectionable,, be- certainly would vote against the third reading. THE SOUTH POLE. CAPTAIN SCOTT’S EXPEDITION. MULES SECURED FOR TRANSPORT. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. (l\r Press Association.) Christchurch, Last Night. Mr. J. J. Kinsey, New Zealand representative of Captain Scott’s British Antarctic expedition, made an interesting statement to-night in regard to obtaining mules for use as transport animals in the Antarctic regions, outside the useful scientific and exploring work which Captain Scott hopes to accomplish with the assistance of the members of the expedition. Everyone knows they arc in the Antarctic with the hope of reaching the South Pole next season. The ponies, which landed it Cape Evans, were in good condition, considering what they had gone through, but, of course, being entirely dependent on this transport, should any ponies fail in the coining winter, Captain Scott would be handicapped and possibly miss h’s goal next season. In that event, it is his intention to make a second attempt the following season, provided fresh transport can he brought down next December.

Captain Scott, before directing men ponies to be sent down, thoroughly discussed the situation with Captain Oates, who suggested that mules would be bel-ter-than ponies for their work, and tdiai trained Indian transport mules would be ideal. Captain Oates and Mr. Moure'aave both seen the wonderful work domin' mules in Northern Tn;lia. and especially during the expedition to Thibet, and there seems little doubt that these animals would do as well on the voyagand in the cold as ponies, and Hun •could draw greater loads at a monuniform pace. The Indian transport males used by the Thibetan expedition did wonderful work on that occasion ai rre-at altitudes, and in very low temperature when ponies, yaks and other mimals broke down.

With this end in view, Captain Scoli wrote to Major-General Sir Dougin.Haig, chief of headquarters stall of the army in India, Simla, when the Terra Nova left Cape Evans, and Mr. Kinse.i has Just received word from the secre tary of the Army Department, Simla, that seven mules have been selected, and are being trained to sledge work at a high altitude. Satisfactory shipping arrangements have been made with tile Union Steam Ship Company, whose steamer, the Aparima, will bring the mules from Calcutta earlv in August.

Mr. Kinsey is also negotiating with a firm at Vladivostoek for a fnrthei supply of trained Siberian dogs. If the Pole is readied in the first season, Cap tain Scott, before returning north, hopes to land a party at some interesting spot, and to usefully employ the stores and transport equipment taken down by the vessel.

In a message cabled to England dealing with events in New Zealand, Mr. Kinsey slated that the Terra Nova unow in better condition than she has been for many years. When she ha? completed her work in regard to of! shore soundings north of New Zealand, he adds she will have supplied information that will greatly assist ships approaching the north of New Zealand from the westward. She will begin this important work in July, and will return to Lyttelton early in October to prepare for another voyage to the south.

Touching on Air. J). G. Lillies’ work. Air. Kinsey says: “During the vessel's stay here he had been closely engaged sorting species and re-pickling and preparing collections for transport 'to England for specialists to deal with. Several new species of invertebrates have been discovered, and large quantities of two species of cephalodisons and possibly new rliabdopleura, both distant relations to the vertebrates, have been collected. Dredgings taken off new land recent! v discovered by Lieut. Pennell at North Victoria Land contained several new forms, including sea urchins, with paddle-shaped spines, and hairy bivalve molluscs. Satisfactory collections of water samples and transparent floating organisms have also been obtained.”