Norwich bulletin., 1922-12-09

London, Nov. 15-Commander Frank Wild, who succeeded Sir Ernest Shac- kleten as leader of the Quest expe- dition to the Antartic, featuring be- fore the Royal Geographical society in London on the work accomplished, explained the difficulties encountered during every stage of the expedition, largely owing to the compulsory ob- jective from the Arctic to the Ant arctic.
 After Sir Ernest's death at South Georgia the Quest pushed on into the ice fields, being frozen in for week. Blubber had to be obtained at Ele phant Island to eke out the coal sup ply.
 Commander Wild said when the late Sir Ernest SnacKleton first con- ceived the idea of another expedition 1t was the Arctic that he intended to explore. There is a large unexplored area known as the Beaufort Sea, and 1t was the exploration of this that he made his aim. The scheme was natur ally one which much interested the Canadian government, one reason be- ing that fears were entertained that the Danes, who controlled Greenland
  arating 1t from Ellesmere Land, and take possession of the latter. The gov ernment was anxious formally to an nex Ellesmere land before this could take place. He received definite prom 8es of support from that side of the water. In England his chief support CT was John Q. Rowett, who had a keen interest in scientific affairs, and who had been strong supporter of research in many departments. The work of the expedition was in full swing. a suitable ship had been bought, and a number of personnel collected when the Canadian support was withdrawn.
 Financial piffieultiee-Sir EErnest Shackleton consequently found him self in great financial difficulties, a condition which had been the bugbear of practically every Polar expedition. MT. Rowett, when he learned of the situation, generously undertook the full financial responsibility, for he felt that the advantages to science would be considerable. By this time it was too late to catch the open Arctic sea son, and so Sir Ernest evolved plans for an expedition into the Antarctic and sub Antarctic areas. This meant a considerable change of general or
 
 sdch was his driving energy that it was all carried out and completed within three months. He realized however, that his ship, the Quest which had been eminently suitable . for the northern expedition, was moi so suitable for the cruise in southern | waters.
 ] The Ship Too SmaiI-In the origi- ! nal program a landing would have l been made, and the main work car , ried out ashore-in the latter, nearly all the work would be carried out iron the ship. The main disability was tha the ship was too small and the en- 1 zines were of too low power. In othel respects she was strong and well form ] ed and a better little sea boat wa! never built, as was amply demon. strated during some of the violen storms which were encountered during the trip. Sir Ernest decided to install moee powerful intd nal Combustion engines in place of the old steam en zines, but that was frustrated by thu strike of ship workers which occur red at this critical juncture.
 The proposed route led to the fol lowing places: St. PauIs Rock on tn Equator, Trinidad Islands, Tristan d Cunha, Nightingale Island, Inaccessi DAO AoIdI0I OIc6O kAANdI6G UT NIOuSI Island and Cape Town. Cape Tow waG to be the base for operations ii . the ice. From there to Marion, Croze and Heard Islands. and then into tn
 ice, where the route was, of cours problematical, but would lead west
 wards to emerge again at South Geor
 gia, thence to Bouvet Island and Cap
 Town. From thence to New Zealand Raratonga, Tuanatci, the lost island Doughty Island, the Birdwood Banl and home via the Atlantic
 Much work was done to alter tn
 ship and fit her for the scientifi work. The best sails and running gea were acquired. for MT. Rowett abso lutely insisted that no expense mus be spared to make her sound and sea worthy. Speaking of the Sperry gyro l scopic compass which was installed i the deck house. Commander Wild sal } it was interesting to note that thi : compass was designed by a Germa to enable a submarine to reach tt North Pole. It had proved of ti greatest general use, but for the or specific use for which it was designe