THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 208, 3 September 1934, Page 7

THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION

ALARM PREMATURE. NOT DUE AT OBJECTIVE. [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Aug. -31. The fears expressed in reports from Copenhagen regarding the safety of the sledge expedition led by Lieutenant Martli Lindsay across the Greenland ice cap, owing to the absence of news of the expedition when the motor-ship Gertrude Rask left Angmagssalik, is regarded as premature by Lindsay’s friends, who state that they did not expect him to reach his objective until the middle of next month. It is believed that the party’s rations will he sufficient for them to hold out for the full three months which they expected the journey of 1000 miles to take. The expedition carried no wireless. The Greenland Administration states that another motor-ship calls at Angmagssalik in a few days’ time.' and the British schooner Jacent is still fishing near the East Greenland coast, and has been given permission by wireless to go to Angmagssalik. Lieutenant Lindsay, who has two companions, began the journey across the ice cap abount June 8 and carried ton weeks’ food. Although there is yet no cause for anxiety, tho nows of his arrival on the cast coast is eagerly awaited. The British Arctic Expedition sought to explore the hinterland of Greenland’s cast coast between Scrnilik Fjord and Scoresby Sound. This territory is guarded by a 450-mile barrier of ice from the west, and from the east coast seaboard by very steep mountain country intersected by glacier valleys. Several parties have already unsuccessfully attempted to penetrate this land. Owing to the difficulties of access from the east the leader decided to approach the region from the west by traversing the ice cap, which rises, to about 9000 feet and stretches over the continent. This made tho distance to be covered by sledge about 1000 miles in all, 800 miles of the route being at a height of over 8000 feet above sea-level. The party was to carry its own food .supplies, and the journey, when completed, would be by far tho longest made by a solpsupporting expedition without food depots in a laud where no game is to be found. It was hoped to complete the journey in sixty days, and the sledges were to have been rigged with sails. As the journey progressed it was proposed to kill the dogs to feed the others, the party planning to start with three sledges and forty-two dogs, and finish with one sledge and seven dogs. The expedition was to start from Disko Bay, cross the continent to the mountains behind Scoresby Sound, turn south to Mount Forels, and then make for the coast. From there they were to have been taken in Eskimo boats to Angamgssalik. The Rymill Antarctic expedition, which is backed by the Colonial Office and the Royal Geographical Society, seeks to attack the Antarctic from the most difficult and least explored side—the Weddell Quadrant. By mill’s plan is to sail to (Deception Island, and thence down the coast of what is sometimes called the Antarctic archipelago, to Marguerite Bay, where Jenny Island lies. There will be an aeroplane scouting ahead before the ship is brought down the coast of the archipelago. It to investigate whether the Crane Channel which Sir Hubert Wilkins saw from the air, separating North and South Graham’ land, is really a channel, or, as seems more likely, a glacier. Later, Rymill hopes to sail to Stefanson Strait, separating the archipelago from the main continent, which Wilkins photographed and two whale gunners looked down some years ago. Here Rymill hopes to set up a camp on the mainland and explore the Weddell coast. If ever this camp is set up it will mean that a great measure of success has been achieved. Tho chances are. however, that it will be impossible tn sail south of Marguerite Bay. To leave the ship there entails a dangerous and difficult journey along the coastal ice; and thus much of the expedition’s hopes turn on the navigability of a comparatively few miles. Be at Spriggens Park ou Saturday, September 8. It will be a day of days. See Doctor G. J. Adams receive the “Runfurly” Shield, one of the great trophies of the day. Come and see the banks play for “real” gold and deal with the Reserve Bank aud the Public Services at the same time.—Advt.