ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13487, 30 July 1907, Page 7

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

LIEUTENANT .SHACKLETON' S EX-

PEDITION.

Under date May 24th the London correspondent of Christchurch Press writes: — It is announced that preparations are rapidly advancing for the dash by motor-car to the South Pole, which is contemplated by Lieutenant Shacjcleton, who took part in the famous voyage of the Discovery, under Captain Scott. He states that ,his ship will sail from London at the end of July, or the first week in August. She is a Norwegian sealer, specially built for contending with ice, and will un-

dergo certain alterations prior to sailing, with the object of giving more room down below for storage purposes.

First, she will proceed to New Zealand; thence sho will go to King Edward VII. Land, where she will disembark the shore parfy. In January, 1908, she will return to New Zealand, and will lie up till the following January, when sho goes down again to King Edward VII. Land, and will pick up the expedition on its return from its shore work. The expedition will navigate as far as possible to the westward, till the coal runs out, and it gets too dark and dangerous, ' when it wiU return to New Zealand, and thence Home again. Lieutenant Shackleton and his comrades expect to bo in England again in Juno, 1909.

I hear that the captain of the vessel has not yet been chosen. There will be a crew of fourteen! In addition, there will lie the staff for scientific and general work, numbering twelve in all. These will include Sir Philip Brocklehurst, who is a good strong man at sledging work, and who will also do the surveying; Lieutenant Adams, who will act as meteorologist, and is also good for sledging; Mr James Murray (the biologist) and Mr James Muir, who is an able mechanical engineer.

A special feature of the expedition is that it will press the motor-car into the service of Antarctic exploration. This idea is not new. It was mooted at the time of the last expedition, but so far as Lieutenant Shackleton knows, the present is the first time it has ever been put into effect. The intention is to use petrol, or some similar substance that will not freeze ; while it will have separate sets of wheels adapted to the varying surfaces over which the journey has to be made. The car is not to carry the members of the expedition — with them it is a caso of marching on foot. Its function will be to draw the sledges conr.ainins; the impedimenta of the expedition. • But in case the motor breaks down on the unaccustomed journey, the loads will be transferred to a number of Manchurian ponies. These animals are very strong, capable of living on lib. of food a day, and will be quite at home in the Antarctic regions, for they are accustomed to living in exceedingly low temperatures. There will also be a number of dogs with the party.

From the base at King Edward VII. Land to the South Pole, is some 700 miles, and unless insuperable mountain difficulties are met, the distance may be covered in about five weeks or so. Lieut.. Shackleton points out that the object of his expedition is not a mere dash to. the Polo and back. There is geographical and scientific work in hand also.. Four . million square miles in the region of the Pole await the footsteps of the explorer, and a rich harvest of geological, geographical, #nd magnetic discoveries is probably in store for those who venture the journey.