Evening star., 1922-06-03
AMUNDSEN SAILS
|. FOR ARCTIC TODAY
Ship Maud Equipped With
Two Planes and Great
Stock of Food.
By the 6ssocia ated Press.

SEATTLE, WASH, June S.-W hen
Capt, Roald Amundsen's exploration
ship Maud sails today for her long
voyage through the ice packs OF the
uncharted north polar basin one of
the most complete and extensive sci
entific expeditions ever undertaken
will get under way.
The expedition is q resumption of
the effort begun by Capt. Amundsen
wegian government. to drift past the
north pole with the ice foes. mi
nutely studying phenomena Of a vast
area never before visited by white
men. and to secure data which the
explorer expects may revolutionize
present-day meteorological and ocean
ographical knowledge in the northern
hemisphere.
The first effort met with delay in
1920, when the Maud lost a propeller
in the ice OF the northeastern coast
and was forced to put into Seattle
for repairs. Recently the vessel has
undergone overhauling. Two air
planes. a long-range wireless outfit
and many precise scientific tnstru-
ments have been added to the compile
ment.
The expedition, Capt. Amundsen has
repeatedly declared, is primarily a
scientific one, and, while he hopes to
reach the north pole-he discovered
the south pole in l911-the study Of
ocean and magnetic currents, the
Of the air will be his first objective.
Land to BE Sought.
Special investigation will be made
the neighborhood Of the pole. as some
oceanographers. basing their belief
on sudden shifts in polar ocean cur
rents, have maintained. Much atten-
ton will be given to the ocean itself.
and. through holes bored in the ice.
measure the depth Of the water. di-
rection and strength Of submarine
currents and take samples from diff
ferent levels for chemical analysis.
The two airplanes-one capable Of
carrying nine passengers and the
outfit, the explorer deems the most
important items of the vessels equip
ment. With the planes-the "eyes Of
the ship"-he will make an intensive
exploration Of the huge area Of all
the the ROOF Of the world" 's
The larger plane will be used for
the more extensive Investigations.
while the scout plane will fly in the
immediate vicinity Of the vessel
BY means Of the wireless equipment
Capt. Amundsen expects to keep in
flash the message, that following
Peary, he has reached the north pole.
Four times daily he will send wireless
messages to Washington, giving
meteorological data expected to aid
measurably in forcasting weather
conditions throughout the globe.
stocked With Provisions.
guard the expedition against the
twists Of fate in the Arctic that 80
often in the past have caused the
failure Of explorative efforts and re-
suited in tragedy for those who took
part in them: Capt. Amundsen is
skeptical Of the theory that an ex-
plorer can live on the country" in
that part Of the world. and the Maud
has been stocked with provisions to
last seven years. Sixty tons of fuel
oil have been taken aboard.
Husky" dogs. to be used In sledge
work after the vessel is frozen into
the ice. will join the vessel at Nome.
To provide recreation in the long
Arctic winter. books-many Of them
have been added to the stores. Six
hundred pounds OF candy form an i'm.
portant item Of the cargo.
within three weeks. and by July to be
heading out into the Arctic. Ice condi-
tions are reported to be better than
during the last ten years, and the ex-
plorer 10 hopeful Of reaching . point
far north before the pack closes in,
lifting the little ship bodily to its sur.
face. An additional northing Of sixty
or seventy miles. 1t IL estimated. may
cut year from the drifting time
To Drift Past Pole.
Capt Amundsen expects to drift past
the pole from q point on northeast
Siberia to Spitzbergeu. within I'VE OF
six years.
Oscar Visiting. one Of the four men
who accompanied Amundseu to the
south pole, Will be sailing master. az
the Man6 otAer insmbenD ox The xea-