Omaha daily bee., 1922-06-04
Capt. Amundsen
Will Seek Land
at Top Of World
Airplanes, Wireless and Dogs
Will Play Part in Voyage to
North Polar Basin-North
Pole Destination.

Seattle. Wash. June 3.-Whei
Capt Roald Amundsen's exploration
ship. Maud. sails from Elliot, ba,
here today for her long voyas,
through the ice packs oi the un
eharled north polar bas, y, one OF tht
most complete and extensive scien
,iiic expeditions ever undertaken il
tha, region will get under way. The
expedition is resumption OF the
effort, begun by Captain Amundsef
Tin 1918. under tine auspices of the
Norwegian government 10 DRIFT pasl
the north pole with the ice iloes
minutely studying phenomena OF q
vast area never before visited by
white men. and to secure data which
the explorer expects may revolution.
ize present day meteorological and
oceanographical knowledge in the
northern hemisphere.
The expedition, Capt. Amundsen
has repeatedly declared. is primarily
a scientific one, and while he hopes
to reach the north polc-he discov-
cred the south pole in l9ll-the study
OF ocean and magnetic currents, the
DRIFT OF the ice pack and movements
OF the air will be his first objective.
Covers Roof OF World.
The two airplanes--one capable of
carrying nine passengers and the
other hrcc-seatcr-and the wire
less outfit, the explorer deems the
most important items OF the vessels
equipment. With the planes-"the
eyes OF the ship" he will make an
intensive exploration of the huge
area OF almost 100000 square miles
covering the roof OF the world" The
larger plane will be used for the
more extensive Investigations. while
The scout plane will fly in the i'm
mediate vicinity Of the vessel.
By means of the wireless equip
ment Captain Amundsen expects to
keep in touch with the world and
perhaps to flash the message that, fol-
lowing Peary. he has reached the
north pole. Four times daily he will
send wireless messages to Washing
ton, giving meteorological date ex-
pected to aid measurably in, fore
casting weather conditions through
out the globe.
Every Precaution Taken.
Every precaution has been taken to
guard the expedition against the
twists of fate in the Arctic that so
often in the past have caused the
failure of explorative efforts and re-;
suited in tragedy for those who took
part in them. Captain 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 froz-
en- into the ice, will join the vessel
at Nome, Alaska. To provide re-
creation in the long Arctic winter
winter, books-many of theln-have
been added to the stores. Six hum.
dred pounds of candy form an i'm
portant item of the cargo.
The Maud is expected to reach
Nome within three weeks, and by
July |, to be heading out into the
Arctic. Ice conditions are reported
to be better than during the last few
years, and the explorer is hopeful
OF reaching a point far north be-
fore the pack closes in lifting the
little ship bodily to its surface. An
additional northing of 80 or.7O miles,
it is estimated. may cut a year from
the drifting time.
Scientists in Expedition.
Capt. Amundsen expects to drift
past the pole from a point off north
east Siberia to Spitzbergen within
5 or E years.
Oscar Visiting, one of the four
men who accompanied Amandsen to
the south pole, will be sailing master
of the Maud. Other members of the
vessels complement, include Carl
Hansen, mate; DR.. H. U. Sverdrup
and Finn Malmgren. scientists: G.
N. Olonkin and S. Syvertsen, engi-
neers; Lieut.. E. G. Fullerton, former
Canadian army aviator. Lieut.. O.
Omdal and Sergt. O. Dahl Of the
Norwegian army, aviators. OF the
six natives taken on board the Maud
last year, only one, Cacot. will con-
tinue with the expedition after reach
ing the Siberian coast.
II. Fl. Hammer, Seattle representa-
tive of Capt. Amundsen, and re-
Gently knighted by the king of Nor
way for his services in connection
with the expedition, has been named
an honorary member of the Maud's
crew.
The first effort met with delay in
1920, when the Maud lost a propel-
Ter in the ice off the northeastern
Siberian coast and was forced to
put into Seattle for repairs. Re-
Gently the vessel has undergone COM
plete overhauling, and additional
equipment, including two airplanes,
long range wireless outfit and
many precise scientific instruments
has been added to the complement.
Special investigation will be made
TO determine whether land exists in
the neighborhood Of the pole, as
some oceanographers, basing their
belief on sudden shifts in polar ocean
currents, have maintained. Much at
tention will be given to the ocean
itself and, through holes bored in
the ice, scientists Of the expedition
will measure the depth of the water,
direction and strength of submarine
currents and take samples from diff
fcrcnt levels for chemical ANALYSIS.
DE- A D Iaia.4e.. la.,4:~x x..-..i