WEDDELL SEA

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20715, 27 January 1939, Page 11

WEDDELL SEA

BRITON’S CLAIM ASPERSED OEOLARED A FAKE AMERICAN PROFESSOR’S CRETICrRM (Times Air Mail Serrioe) LONDON, December If ! Professor Filliam Hobbe, of the llnli versity of Michigan, addressing to-day the Convention of American Ueograpi hers at Cambridge, Massachusetts, ! alleged bluntly that Captain Jainea | Weddell's exploration of the Weddell 1 Sea In the Antarctic was a fake, reports the New York correspondent of the ; Daily Telegraph. i In 1823 Janies Weddell' a retired naval captain, in command of the brig Jane and the cutter Beaufoy, claimed to have sailed into the sea which bears his name, and to have penetrated nearer to the South Pole than anyone before him. "The sea which the British Admiralty descripes at Weddell Sea, and which Captain Weddell claimed to have penetrated,” said Professor Hobbs, "has since been found to be covered perpetually by pack ice, and is recognised as wholly unnavigable.” I He alleged that Captain Weddell's ; narrative had all the colour and life which characterised a notorious explorer in the opposite Polar region, i whose story was later proved to be ] pure fiction. Professor Hobbs , contended that Captain Weddell's map, allegedly prepared from personal observation, was actually copied from ‘‘a, suppressed and generally Inaccessible map, kept in the Hydrographic Office at the British Admiralty, and made two years earlier by on American called Palmer and an Ewsriishman named Powell.” All that Captain Weddell did, alleged the Professor, was to change the names of the principal features and to 6ign his name to the map. To Be Investigated Dr. Hugh R. Mill, Shaekleton’s blograyher and former Librarian, RoyaJ Geographical Society states that Professor Hobbs’ allegations would be very carefully considered. "Professor Hobbs himself told mo that he had discovered a document which proved that Weddell had never been there,” he said, ‘‘but I cannot say definitely -what is my opinion on tho subject. ‘ There is no doubt about Weddell’* claim to have got very far south in the Weddell Sea, without seeing any ice. In fact, he turned back on lighting: small Icebergs. "Twenty years after that a Britloli explorer penetrated the Sea nearly as far as Weddell himself had ! done. Later still. In 1902, Bruoo. ’ the Scottish explorer, got muoh far- ! ther south and dis©ov*r*d Goat’s Land. •‘To say that the Weddell See te perpetually oovered, and that no one can get Into It la abeurd." Da. MiU added. _