Imperial Valley press., 1914-02-02
Plans Desperate Effort
To Cross Frigid Plains
Of Antarctic Continent

continent of snow, mountain ranges,
volcanoes and frightful storms from
the side of the Western Hemis-
phere to the side of the Eastern Hem
isphere.
The main party will leave civiliza-
tion at Buenos Ayres and reach it
again in Christchurch, or some other
New Zealand city.
The start will be from Argentina in
October of this year and if a good
landing is made on the shore of We'd
dell sea by the beginning of Novem-
Der, shore party will proceed imme-
diately across. In this case the eXpe-
dition should reach Ross sea, on the
other side, by March, 1915.
But if the shore party has hard
luck, it will content itself with laying
series of caches and will then re-
turn to the Weddell sea shore, start
ing out again year later.
The expedition will have two ships.
The first, which carries Shackleton
to the Antarctic continent. Will do
work in tracing the shore of the con-
tinent to the west, and will go back
to South America before the close
of navigation, returning the next year
to take up party which will winter
on the shore of Weddell sea and carry
out a scientific work in the so-called
"Weddell quadrant" Long sledge jour
neys will be taken east and west of
the base by this party.
The second ship will approach the
continent from the other, or Ross sea
side, and take back Shackleton, ac-
cording to his plans. If Shackleton
crosses the first season, he will reach
civilization again by the middle of
April, 1915. Otherwise, it will be a
year later.
This second vessel will sail from
New Zealand about the same time as
the Weddell sea ship sails south. On
landing at prearranged base, the
second party will send sledging ex-
pedition as far south as possible, to
latitude SO, if practicable, but this ex-
petition will return in time to go
north again before. the close of navi-
cation. The expedition will endeavor
to lay series of depots along what
may be the last stages of Shackleton's
route. But Shackleton will not de-
pend on them in. any way. They may
not be laid at all. If Shackleton
doesn't arrive this season, the second
ship will return south the next year
again. l.o
Five months is the time Shackleton
estimates as necessary for this cross
ing of the South Polar continent He
allows ten days for delays by bliz-
yards. The minimum distance from
sea to sea is 100 miles, but it is
probable that Sir Edward will try to
cover new ground throughout and SO
go much farther.
"The Transarctic party" as Sir En-
nest calls it, will begin its journey
with 120 dogs, two sledges driven by
aeroplane propelers with aeroplane
engines, and an aeroplane with clipped
wings to taxi over the ice. But
large part of the work of transport
will be by dogs. Dogs will eat their
fellows flesh, while ponies will not.
Motor sledges have been found to
be practically useless in the Antarctic,
as the amount of work put on the
engine when passing over varying sur
faces generally causes the motor to
break down. Sir Ernest proposes to
build an ordinary sledge, larger than
the usual size, and on this to mount
an aeroplane engine, with an aero
plane propeller in front. He figures
that sledge of this description is
capable of dragging a ton at five or
six miles an hour.
Instead of one sleeping bag, each
explorer will carry three, so that when
one is iced up it can be discarded. The
tents will be made of three-ply wood
strong enough to support a dome
shaped covering of snow, thus insur
ing more warmth.
The full complement of the shore
party will be II meA and six of these
Will make the journey across. Both
OF the ships will be fitted to burn oil
instead of coal, as the liquid fuel ex
tends the radius of action and rem
ders the vessels Independent of bal
last. The ships, which will carry 30
men altogether, will be fully equipped
with cages and tanks for bringing
home live penguins and seals, such as
have never been taken from the Ant