Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-05-29
Ambitious Plans of Explorer
Are Sanctioned by the Gov
eminent of France
tBy Latest Mail

PARIS = There is a strong flavor
of romance about a new Arctic story,
the first chapter OF which viii open
with the sailing of lie Petit Fire tthe
little Fiferj from the port of Havre
in June, with Mr. Jules de Payer and
his gallant comrades aboard, on a
voyage of discovery to Francis Joseph
land.
Francis Joseph land has, it is true,
been visited several times since its
discovery by Commander Won Payer.
Leigh Smith, Frederick Jackson, the
Duke OF Abruzzi, the Duke of Orleans,
the Prince of Monaco, Ziegler, Fiala
and hansen have all contributed to
our knowledge of it, but the whole of
the northeastern region, especially
Zichyland and the Liva, Eva, AIDE
laide and Huitland group, is still un-
explored.
THE North European submarine
continent" explained M. Jules de
Payer, has been determined north
northwest of the Francis Joseph ar
chipelago by the labors of the Prince
of Monaco and Sverdrup. We shall
seek to determine to the northeast of
the Francis Joseph archipelago the
abysmal depression proved to exist to
the. north of the archipelago by Syer-
drup. We shall confine ourselves
exactly to the indications of the
sounding lead.
This, indeed, is the novelty fea-
ture of the expedition; it is the sound
ing lead which will give us our direc-
ton. Our possible discoveries may
be divided into three parts: either we
shall come upon new islands; or We
shall locate unknown shoals; or,
thirdly, we shall discover to the
northeast of the archipelago the abys-
NAL depression marking the limit of
the north European plateau. The OBJ
ject of our expedition is purely scien-
tific, not sensational"
"And how long do you expect to be
away?"
"A year at least, three years at
most We shall leave Havre about
the middle of June. The Petit Fire
will endeavor. to reach the northeast
of the archipelago. How long the
run will take 1t Is impossible to say.
From Hammerfest to the archipelago
rs to 80 degrees-the voyage may
take five days and it may take two
months. At any rate We shall land
at the latest by the LIST of September.
Our headquarters will be established
at this point, and the Petit Fire will
then leave us and return to Europe
until such time as we arrange for it
to sail northward once more and fetch
us home"
M. de Payers program having been
sanctioned by the French government,
his mission is official, and he has been
authorized to recruit staff that will
be composed of naval lieutenant
second In command, naval ensign,
two sea-going captains, an army and
fleet surgeon and geologist of the
museum.
The most interesting feature of the
expedition is, perhaps, the fact that
M. de Payer will be accompanied by
the wellknowp military lieutenant
Menard with two aeroplanes. More
over, he will be provided with mill
tary kites and wireless telegraphy
apparatus, by means of which he
hopes to put himself in communica-
ton with the Eiffel tower when he
has established his winter quarters in
the Arctic regions. He will thus be
able to receive Paris time and ascer-
tain the difference Of longitude be-
tween Paris and the points in ques-
ton.
While in its winter quarters, the
party will make scientific. physical
and astronomical observations, and
during the polar nights the two
groups Of which the expedition will
be composed will prepare for their
summer campaign. 1t is during the
latter that their most important la
bors will be ccomplished-hydro-