The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-01-26
FIVE EXPEDITIONS EXPLORE
ANTARCTIC.

English, Germans, NorWegians, and
Japanese Try to Reach South Pole
1t is Believed to Be Easier Than
North Pole.
The year 1912 may see the diScov-
cry of the South Pole Never were I'd
many expeditions, and such Well-pro-
vided ones, trying for this last great
geographical prize.
Tt IL summer now in the southern
hemisphere. In January it will be
midsummer. Then, or perhaps In lie
cember, no less than five parties of
explorers will be toiling over the
south polar ice, hoping to win world
wide fame.
Lieutenant Shackleton, r. January,
1909, came within 100 geographical
miles of the South Pole. From hiS
observations IL appears that the chain
OF mountains which in North America
are called the Rockies, and in South
America the Andes, continues almost
to the South Pole, allowing for the
break south Of Terra del F'uego. On
the Antarctic Continent they begin
again and continue to a point oppo-
site New Zealand, leaving the pole
little to one side. Lieutenant
Shackleton started from the edge OF
the continent, south or New Zealand,
and followed this mountain chain,
keeping little to the east OF III. When
within 200 or 900 miles OF the pole,
he found that the chain turns to the
left In the direction of Cape Horn.
But Shackleton was able to find a
pass in the mountains through which
he and his party made their way. The
rest OF the route was level. No mounS
tains were seen beyond, and Ii seems
probable that the South Pole il on 81
elevated plain nearly two miles above
sea level. Tit may b. that this great
elevation ID caused by Ice and snow,
which have accumulated for ages and
never melted. Yet Shackleton found
coal In the mountains. The coal, be-
ing of vegetable origin, proves that
this lonenest part of the earth's sur
face once had mild, perhaps tropi-
cal, c1imate-how many million years
ago we know not.
or the five expeditions now in the
South Polar regions two are English,
one German, one Norwegian and one
Japanese.
Captain R. =. Scott 10 the leader or
the principal English company. His
route Is south from New Zealand,
about the 173d meridian, as straight
to the pole as possible. The other
English explorers are under Dr.Doug-
las Mawson who was with Shackleton.
Their purpose is only to explore an
unknown part OF the coast of the sup
posed Antarctic continent, and to find
out whether it is really one continu-
GUS body OF land OF two O. more large
islands. This party goes south from
Tasmania, and when IL strikes the
ice barrier turns west The Japanese
also start from Australia, but little Is
known Of their plans. Norway's ship
is commanded by Captain Roald
Amundsen already famous In polar
exploration. He sails southwestward
from Cape Horn skirts the Ice bar
rier and lands near the 160th meridian
west from Greenwich.
The German expedition seems To be-
fitted out with the greatest care and
to have the best chance OF success.
It's ship, the Deutschland, is a wooden
whaler, wood having been found to
be better than steel to resist ice pres
sure. The Deutschland will depend
mainly on it's masts and sails, but
has boiler and engine to be used
when wind fails. There are provis-
ions and coal for forty months, with
automobile sleds, Manchurian ponies
and Eskimo dogs for the land travel.
This ship will b. lighted BY electric
ity and will have a wirelesst tele-
graph apparatus by which it can send
messages to South America.
In a few weeks the world may
hear that one or more Of these explor-
ers has outdone Lieutenant Sir Ernest
Shackleton's great exploit, and has
reached the pole.-Current Events.