New-York tribune., 1901-08-12
SOUTHWA ARD HOl
THE BRITISH AND GERMAN CAMPAIGN
OF EXPLORATION IN THE ANTARc-
TIC BELT-A WELL EQUIPPED
EXPEDITION ON SCI
ENTIFIC LINES
London, July 81

mouth or Cowes. She will anchor in the Spit
head for two or three days for final preparations.
and the King viii probably go on board and in
,nect the deck, cabins and working rooms RIy
che end OF a week the Discovery will be on her
v-ay 10 Melbourne and Victoria Land. went over
the ship yesterday, and was impressed with the
strength Of the hull and with the ingenuity Of
the arrangements for scientific work and the
comfort Of the crew during a long voyage. The
Discovery is a small steamer of about two thou
sand tonnage. with three masts, completely
rigged and a fairly powerful engine. She has
accommodations for about forty-four men, Off
GERS. scientific staff and crew. There are work
ing rooms on deck for the scientific staff. and
the cabins, library messrooms and kitchen have
been specially designed for the convenience and
comfort OF the officers and crew during a voyage
Of two years devoted TO exploration The decks
Yesterday Uttered with stores which had
not been stored in the hold, and carpenters and
shipwrights were at work upon various altera-
tons and appointments; but while the confusion
Of the final preparations was apparent, the su-
perority OF this exploring ship over the steam
whsler ordinarily pressed into service for
arctic or antarctic voyages was obvious 1t
was a working place for a trained body Of scien-
thc observers, and snug and comfortable home
COR the crew during the long antarctic night
The main cabin a model of convenience.
with compartments adjoining il lined with we'll
stocked book shelves and writing boards and
desks The kitchen was we'll appointed and
there were systematic arrangements for the stor-
age Of supplies. The engine room was small. but
convenient and serviceable, and the deck mech
ansm was complete for navigation in the ice and
for scientific observations. The blue peter has
seldom fioated over ship which has been de-
signed with more forethought and practical skill
q,
yellow masts, her eight white lifeboats the Dis
oovery is a trim and handsome craft. and in
construction she is as scientific as the commits
sion which she has received from two great So
cieties
The Discovery will represent the Royal Society
and the Royal Geographical Society in its south
voyage for the advancement Of science.
There is complete cooperation between the
councils Of the two learned societies. and the
members Of each body have subscribed literally
toward the expenses Of the expedition. There
has also been treasury grant and the Ad-
miralty has rendered important aid by supply
ing scientific instruments and appliances. by
enabling four naval officers well a small
number Of seamen 10 accompany the expedition
without forfeiting their usual pay and allow
ances. by providing naval stores for the cruise
Of three years at cost price and by allowing
Of the chief naval constructors. Mr. w. +.
Smith, 10 design and superintend the building
Of the ship The Discovery was built by the
Dundee Shipbuilding Company after veteran eX-
plorers, such as Sir Leopold McClntock and Sir
Clements r. Markham. had been convinced that
a vessel must be specially designed for naviga-
ton in the southern ice. 1t is Of the strong
est vessels ever constructed in a Scotch ship
yard, and is the first ship ever built in Great
Britain exclusively for exploration and scien-
tifc work Not only have the lines been de-
signed and the timber selected for the special
purpose Of Offering resistance to the tremendous
pressures Of the antarctic pack, but the mag
netic observatory has also been so arranged
that there is neither steel nor iron within thirty
feet The ship bears name already famous in
the literature Of exploration. Baff1n, Vancouver,
Cook and Stephenson each commanded a good
ship Discovery in their voyages in unknown
waters
Sir Clements r Markham arranged two years
ago with Dr. Won Drygalski. commander Of the
German Antarctic expedition. joint plan OF
Simultaneous operations in southern waters
The quadrant approached from the South At
lantic extending from the Greenwich meridian
70 so degrees west is left out OF account, since
there is little chance Of penetrating the ice pack
south Of Cape Horn, the South Orkneys Gra-
ham Island and Alexander Island. The German
expedition, which is about 10 start from Kiel
viii explore the quadrant stretching from the
Greenwich meridian TO 80 degrees east, and
approached from the Indian Ocean. After es-
tablishing meteorological station on Kerguelen
Island it viii head for Enderby Land. the range
Of ice cliffs with a northern face sighted by
Biseoe In 1881. and follow the eastern trend Of
fhe coast southwark as far as there may be
navigable water. After reaching as high a lati-
tude as possible in a sea which is believed to
De free from icebergs. the expedition Will winter
on the west coast OF Victoria Land and attempt
10 open communications with the British eX-
peoluon. The two remaining quadrants, ap-
preached from the Pacific, New-Zealand and
australia. and extending from 90 degrees TO
1oO degrees west and thence to 30 degrees east.
WA be undertaken by the Discovery. From
Aelpourne and Lyttleton the British eXpedi-
uOh VIII be headed for the east coast Of Vic
'O'ia Land and along the range of ice cliffs dis
covered by Sir James Ross and recently visited
Captain Borchgrevink. The ice pack will
p0Ssioy be sighted in December and the ship
-Oioeo through il into the south water, and the
oSase VIII be followed eastward as far as pos
e,D'e The expedition. according TO the general
F@n OF operations. will winter either in Wood
VI IN McMurdo Bay. at the bottom of
hreous With the return Of full daylight
eslhg parties Will be sent out and the land
S.Ueo south, east and west The second
s@"'e season VIII be occupied with ex-
-s'0h -. westward Of Cape Adare, and the
- - VIII return 10 New-Zealand. If all goes
80. - IN April 1903, and proceed with mag
- survey across the Pacific, reaching Eng
snd in August.
se explorations are conducted on the prin-
nao... N4at navigable sea may usually be ex-
viz On the eastern side OF antarctic coasts
to- 'ales or open water along the northern
Hu Enderby Land with its range Of ice
,o-4 ana indications OF mountains running