The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-03-14

sion of bases upon which they could depend when
returning. Sir Ernest will push straight onward,
from sea to sea, not reckoning at all on, the pos
sibility that an expedition may come a little way
to meet him.
For several years Sir Ernest held the record of
approaching closer to the South pole than any
other man. He feels keenly the dimming of Brit
ish fame by the exploits of Amundsen and Peary.
With no more poles to conquer, he might we'll sit
down and weep, like Alexander the Great. But
instead he has set himself this unique feat.
The news that Sir Ernest expects to come to
the United States before leaving for the south
seas has stirred great interest among Americans
over plans for the exploring expedition. Sir
Ernest is very popular here, where he has lectured
extensively. 1t is probable that wealthy Amer
leans will add considerably to the funds of his ex-
petition.
He started on his last expedition 800, 900 in
debt. 1t took him two years after his return to
pay of this debt and it was hard work, too. This
time he has resolved not to run into debt again.
He has S250,000 guaranteed by {. friend whose
name has not been made public. This sum he will
make do If necessary, but he will be able to
carry on scientific work much more extensively
If he can obtain a further sum of 100000.
Sir Ernest has announced that he will expert
ment with a~eroplane motors and propellers for
travel over the snow this winter, his laboratories
to be in Canada or Siberia. He hopes to perfect
this novel substitute for the Eskimo dog, which
he will also use, and the hardy Shetland pony.
Besides aeroplanes and parts of aeroplanes,
Shackleton will take advantage of wireless, the
movies, prepared foods, and many other of the
newest inventions.
He believes he will have the most perfectly
planned expedition that ever set out, and as he
himself helped to equip many others expeditions
and has been a member of several, he ought to
know.
Sir Ernest Shackleton is now in the prime of
life, a splendid man physically and possessing an
inspiring presence. lie is a born leader. He
makes all about him enthusiastic, especially when
the fire Of memories Of the frozen south moves
him. He is forty years old-pictures taken of
him on his antarctic trips before he has had a
shave make him appear sixty-fve, while in his
street clothes on the Strand he appears a virile
thirty.
To the layman 1t may be surprising to learn that
there are 5000, 900 square miles of unknown terri
tory on the continent of Antarctica. This gives an
idea of the possibilities of discovery open to Sir
Ernest. More than half his journey is said to be
laid along a new route and, If things go right, al
most all of it will traverse virgin fields. 1t is no
overstatement to call it the biggest polar journey
ever attempted
Briefly stated, 1t will cross the dead continent
of snow, mountain ranges, volcanoes and frightful
storms from the side Of the Western hemisphere
to the side of the Eastern hemisphere.
The main party will leave civilization at Buenos
Ayres and reach 1t again in Christchurch, or some
other New Zealand city.
The start will be from Argentina in October of
this year, and II a good landing is made on the
shore of Weddell sea by the beginning of Novem-
Der, a shore party will proceed Immediately
across. In this case the expedition should reach
Ross sea, on the other side, by March, 1915.
But II the shore party has hard luck, It will
content itself with laying a series OF caches and
will then return to the Weddell sea shore, start
ing out again a year later.
The expedition will have two ships. The first,
which carries Shackleton to the Antarctic CONT
nent. 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, return
ing the next year to take up d party which will
winter on the shore of Weddell sea and carry out
scientific work In the socalled "WeddelI quad
rant" Long sledge journeys win 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, according to his plans. If Shsckleton