El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-04-09
PLANS To FLY
I'd GlIIH PILE

London. Eng April s.-For the
first time in history according 10
announcement made here recently by
John L. Cope. F. p G. S. an airplane
win be used In an attempted flight 70
the south pole. Cone win sail from
London In June on the Terra Nova, as
head OF the British imperial Antarctic
expedition, ana will spend five years
in the Antarctic studying conditions
The expedition is purely scientific
The flight viii be made Cope an
nOunced. about Christmas day this
year. and VIII be accomplished in two
stages The airplane. carrying three
men, a sledge, provisions, tent and all
equipment 10 enable the airmen to
walk back 20 their base in event Of
any accident happening during the
journey, win start from the great ice
barrier IN the bay Of Whales and fly
10 the foot OF the great ice noun
ralns, where there are peaks which
rise 70 more than 1900 feet There
all surplus stores and petrol viii be
landed so as TO tighten the machine
for the flight over the mountain
range
This flight" Cope said. lis not be-
Ing made merely as stunt II may
use that word II is Intended TO take
photographs from the air during the
whole journey, and to chart the in
After the flight to the south pole
alrplane VIII be taken back to the
ship. and at Wellington, New Zea-
land. win be oVerhauled- The ship
viii bring the plane back TO the ice
IN the following. summer season. and
during the next four seasons It viii
be used whenever possible 70 make
flights over the continent BY using
an airplane Cope is convinced that
che scienrlsts accompanying the
party VIII be able TO accomplish in
one season as much work as could
be accomplished in four seasons by
the methods hitherto adopted
During the time that the Terra
Nova IS clrcumnaV1 eating the Antarc-
tic the airplane VIII be IN use, ny
ing from the ice TO lands hitherto w
explored and uncharted.
For the first time in history Cope
announced, three scientists will pass
winter on the great ice barrier,
studying the meteorological condi-
tons, and observation stations viii
be established at many different parts
OF the continent Geology also VIII be
an important feature Of the eIpedi-
ton II IS intended to Investigate the
resources Of the western mountains, a
huge range which is Of the same
geological structure and period as the
Andes Of South America where val
liable mineral deposits exist Rubies, ]
copper coal manganese, granite and
marble have been found IN the west D
ern mountains and In the bed OF the ]
ocean gold also has been discovered I
Prospecting can be done, Cope as
serts, In rne sumner season, and I
when claims are established work I
underground can be carried out al /
the year round; but, OF course, ship ]
ments could only be made during the I
brief sumner season Aviation viii I
he Is convinced play an important i
part in the development OF the Ant Q
arctic, for its use viii greatly in D
crease the period during which ship I
meuts Of carEoes can be made
M Cope added that among the Of T
1icers and men who are 20 accompany !
him on the expedition are many who I
served on previous expeditions, in !
Guiding Ernest Joyce, who was with I
Captain Scott and the two Shackletou /
expeditions Joyce viii be second in 4
command OF the British iEs~erial Ant /
arctic expedition