The times., 1898-08-17
A PRIVATE EXPEDITION.
The Antarctic Exploration Not by
the Cove rnlncuf

1t appears that the Antarctic expedition
about which so much has been said re-
Gently is private advertising scheme.
That is not in itself objectionable. but II
is feared that the explorers win some
times care less about the scientific fea-
lures than the sensational. The CORE
spondent of the New York Commercial
Advertiser in London writes:
'In spite of urging of geographers and
men of science generally, the Government
has declined to send an exploring expedi-
ton to the Antarctic. When the Royal
Society urged the project upon Lord Sal
isbury last Winter 1t built hopes upon the
premiers personal interest in scientific
research. Lord Salisbury pottering in his
laboratory at Hatfield and Lord Sails
bury the prime minister with a prudent
chancellor of the exchequer by his side
are. however. two different persons. Sir
Michael Hicks-Beach has no money TO
spare for the undertaking and Mr. Cos
chen. speaking for the navy. neither ships
nor men. Accordingly the premier has
intimated to the geographers that the
signs of the times are so ominou5 and
ordinary naval work so exacting that the
admiralty can lend no aid. The disap-
pointed have a little the advantage of
the marquis in their retort that the ma
ritime supremacy of Great Britain must
be founded upon a quicksand If it can
not spare eight or nine ieutenants TO en-
able II to maintain its supremacy in
maritime discovery but il is clear for
the present that the government will not
cooperate in an Antarctic expedition
Whe. her~the joint influence of the Royal
Society and the Geographical Society
which is considerable, can find means for
the venture in private subscriptions re-
mains TO be seen More probably they will
let the project languish.
Meanwhile one of those semi-scientifc
semi-adyertising expeditions which it is
the fashion of the rich and ambitious
publishers TO equip in preparing TO sail
20 the Antarctic. Sir George Newnes
appears 10 have resigned the quest of
the Americas Cup TO Sir Thomas Upton
Perhaps such trophy of sport sorts
better with tea and extract of beef than
It does with the publication of six-penny
magazines. Mr.. Harmsworth. his rival.
who has not yet been knighted, sends
expeditions to the Arctic. Sir George,
accordingly. is preparing to send one to
the Antarctic. He commissioned the
DullCI-fS or the fram 10 construct tne
Southern Cross on the same lines that
they followed so successfully in Nansen' 8
ship. She IS now in London taking
aboard stores and every device that in
genuity and experience have coutrived
for the amelioration of life and effective
exploration in high latitudes. All sorts Of
feed have been converted into essences
or compressed into tins All sorts Of
medicine have been concentrated in tab
lets. Proper garments have been col
iected in northern attitudes and a pack
Of Esquimaux dogs are TO journey on the
Southern Cross from the Arctic to the
Antarctic. Needless 10 say everything
has been duly advertised here in London
Il is the way OF such expeditions. Hap
PLY SIR George has given the command
to MIR. Borchgrevink. the young Ncrwe-
gian who has already done some eXpl0r-
ing in the Antarctic AMI who. when ne
was in America few years ago. seemed
well fitted for such work. As yet he has
n,ade no statement of MS plans. but his
ship is full of appliances for meteorologi-
cal observation and the cOIect-on and
preservation of Antarctic f5ra and fauna.
Under his direction the expedition sh0u, d
do more serious and lasting work than
the furnishing of pictures and articles TO
the Strand Magazine"