Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-04-19
MAWSON, NOTED
POLAREXPLORER,
A VISITOR HERE
Sir Douglas on Way to AUS
traIia-Sees Little Hope
For StefanSSon {

Sir Douglas Mawson. the great po-
lar explorer who was recently knight
ed by King George in recognition of
his contribution to science during his
two years stay on the Antarctic con-
tinent completed in February of last
year. is a through passenger on the
Sonoma today bound for Australia.
Sir Douglas comes from a three
months lecture tour Of the eastern
states. in which he told of his Won
derful experiences in Antarctic win
ters, before scientific societies Of uni
versities. He lectured fC> one month
in the Broadway theater. New York,
there being such a demand that the
explorer had tC speak every day and
night during the month. He is now
on his way to resume his chair as
head Of the geological department of
the University of Adelaide. He will
return to Europe. He says that the
war has upset polar exploration.
DR.. Mawson's expedition resulted in
the largest addition to Antarctic geog.
raphy contributed by one, party. He
explored 1900 miles of Adlie land, the
existence Of which has been in doubt
since 1t was first sighted by Admiral
Wilkes of the United States navy in
1889. - T. 80,
= The, chief feature of Mawson's ,.ex.
peditfon was the fact that he, was in
touch with civilization almost all Of
the two years spent on the Antarctic
continent. The great advance made
by science In recent years enabled him
to study the polar regions in the ice
boind regions of the southern plateau.
and at the same time report condi-
tions to Australia 1000 miles to the
north.
The great explorer lost two of his
men In the winter of 1872 and escaped
death himself only by stumbling on to
cache Of food. He in COM
pany with Lieut.. MINIS and Dr. Mertz,
left the main base at Commonwealth
Bay for sledging journey inland to
explore portions OF the great ice cap
of the seventh continent
Speaking about the Stefansson ex
pedition seeking the uncharted land
north of Canada DR.. lawson said:
There is little hope that Stefans.
son is alive. He and his two eompan.
ions are on drifting ice and it may
be that Stefansson's wonderful knowl-
edge of Eskimo life might enable him
to hive under conditions which no other
white man could survive. He had
only 20 rounds of ammunition when
last heard from March, 1914" ..'
Sir Douglas is a thorough scientist
and believes in taking advantage of
the best that science can give for polar
research. His expedition kept in touch
with civilization throughout its two.
year stay in the Antarctics by use OF
the use of the wireless.
when asked about his future plans
the navigator and scientist replied that
he would not be headed for the Ant
arctics for some time yet as a fe@
years will be required to arrange the
scientific reports from his last expedi-
tion for the Australian Society for the
Advancement of Science.
This war in Europe has placed a
damper On polar research" said Sir
Douglas. People do not want to give
money for expeditions for the advance.
ment of science wien the chances are
good for them to go hungry within the
year"
The story Of his two years explora-
tions and the terrible privation en-
dured by his three parties IS Just. COM
ing off the Lippincott press, Philadel-
phia, and will be in the hands of the
readers before the end of April Home
of the Blizzard" is the appropriate
title, as the book tells how Common
wealth Bay, which was the main base
Of the expedition, is the nursery of
the terrific billiards daily sweeping
the southern seas. The book is hand
RlDA