The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1920-04-01
AirpIane, Ship, and Sledges to Carry
Explorers on COmpletest Survey
of the Polar Continent.

To Antarctica, roof Of the world,
for six years work, is shortly to sail
the most completely QUILTED polar
expedition ever assembled. Alas for
romance, however, it's aim is not
glory, but a complete com nm
survey of the white continent ana
perial Antartic Expedition, as it is
called, is backed by great govern
mental, scientific, and financial IN,
terests, which have raised $3.50, 900
to insure its complete success.
First Of all, photographers want
the coast line charted, and limits
found for the great central plateau
chain along the west coast Of Ross
Sea stretch unbroken across the con-
tinent, forming continuation, ex-
cept for $50 miles, OF the South
American Andes? Here, obviously,
is work for the expeditions airplane,
of which again, more later. Win
the nations pocketbook In mlnds
Britain wants to know the extent OF
the coal, manganese, granite, marble.
and ruby deposits already, located.
Where. again, are the breeding places
or the secret rendezvous OF the
whales, 10000 of whom in recent
year yielded $1O,00O,O00 worth OF
OIL glycerine, soap, margarine, fertll-
zer, and other by-products? Aus
tralia, New Zealand. and So, South h
charted that the meterologlsts at
home may trace the cyclones OF the
southern hemisphere from their in
.ception. Scientists throughout the
world, finally, are demanding in
formation of electrical conditions
near the pole that they may have
found on established fact their m
in, TO r
ism. Some imagine the pole as hold
ing a clue to the origin Of the mys-
ferrous messages from Mars, that
have been the subject OF World-Wlde
controversy.
The ship chosen to bear the party
to Antartica is the Terra Nova,
seasoned whaler whose WOODEN
MANY VOYAGES within the polar cir
Gle. The vessel was first heard OF
when it went to Captain SCOTS res
cue in 1904. Admitting then its
strength and general layout, the
captain later chose it to bear. him
southwark in 1910 on the trip that
won the pole but, cost his life But
even better adapted to her work
than the ship of 1910.
Thus splendidly equipped, the
British Imperial Antartic Expedi-
ton will said from England in June
of this year. Wellington, New Zea-
land, will be the last port OF call,
and will be left behind in october;
thousand miles through me m pneit;c
oceans will then bring the advent
urers to the limit of the floating ice,
and day or two later, Macquarie
island which will be surveyed in
short order. Another southwark
journey Of the same length: through
constantly thickening ice floes, will
three scientists, with their hut, will
be marooned for years, investi-
eating. The ship will now be, in the
midst of the pack, ceasely lodging
icebergs, and often ramming the
scattered floes which in a few months
will cement themselves into con-
tinuouh mass. Antarctica's sum
mer'' months, it must be remember
ed, are November, December Jan
time the unsetting sun brings the
mercury very nearly to 80 degrees +:
This the explorers call hot weather.
Meanwhile, the Terra Nova" will
have sailed along the barriers 4OO-
mile front to the Bay OF Whales,
where the ,airplane will be put to.
~,
christmas Day, 1920, for the pole.
500 miles to the south. A nonstop
flight unfortunately will be impos-
sible, as the level expanse Of the bar
rier is terminated, 400 miles to the
south by the mountainous escarp..
ments Of the central plateau. So at
the foot of Axel Heiberg Glacier,
discovered and named by Amundsen
during his rush to the pole in 1911.
will be established depot of food
and gasoline. Lightehed in every
possible way, the big plane will then
rise from the barrier surface, make
its spiral climb for altitude, and
finally dart southwark at 1900 It.
|If the plane comes to grief on the
polar plateau. the crew of three. un-
der CAPTAIN Wilkins, will attempt to
[On their return TO the Bay of Whales
the Terra Nova" will pick them up.
then cruise north at full speed, for
the days will be growing short and