Evening star., 1931-06-21
CAPITAL SCIENTIST
IS ASIA TRIP AIDE
Or. Maynard Owen Williams
Goes Through Khyber
Pass to India.

DR.. Maynard Owen williams Of 3214
Newark street, chief Of the National
Geographic Society's foreign editorial
stan. Is forging across Asia in the
Trans Asia Expedition, which has been
characterized as one Of the most COM
pletely equipped and most extensive
overland explorations ever made.
Coincident with Associated Press dis
patches from India that the party hao
passed over the roof Of the world al
Khyber Pass, the National Geographic
Society made public from its head
quarters here a statement disclosing
further the scientific and sdventuresome
aspirations Of the expedition.
Haardt Is Leader.
Organized IN France, the expedition
is under the leadership of Georges
Marie Haardt, who was first to make a
by ''trackless trains" The expedition
plans to cross Asia from Syria to China,
then to turn south to French Indo-
China and to return westward across
Burma, India and BaluchiStan in q
round trip of more than 1880 miles.
Leaving Beyrouth. Syria. at the east
ern end CT the Mediterranean, in April,
the expedition has crossed Syria, Iraq,
Persia and Afghanistan. 1t entered
India, near Peshawar, on June l9 and
will strike northward to Kashmir and
into the Himalayas
An auxiliary section of the expedi-
tion. known as the China unit, with
similar equipment, left Peiping, China
and Is journeying westward to effect a
junction with the main expedition, or
Pamir unit, at Kashgar, Chinese
Turkestan. The combined units then
plan to cross China eastward by dif-
ferent route.
Seven Cars.
Each unit consists of seven special
cars with trailers. The Chinese unit
already has reached Suchow, more than
half way to its objective. 1t effected
the first crossing of the Cobb Desert by
means of automobiles propelled by band
drives in place Of rear wheels.
The main expedition, travelling east
ward, has a personnel Of 35 men, IN
cluding specialists In geography, archie
4nthoropology and other branches OF
science. Two cars are devoted to the
taking of one Of the most comprehen-
sive geographic vocal motion picture
records ever made. This phase OF the
expedition. requiring special scientific
and technical experimentation, Is being
conducted by Pathe-Nathan. Paris. The
scenic wonders of innermost Asia, the
customs and the costumes of its peo-
pies are being photographed, both by
the black and white and the color
camera; and native dialects, songs,
chants and rituals are being recorded
on sound Aims.
Meteorological observations are being
made of areas which have been blank
spaces on world weather maps. Mag
netic studies are in progress and an
artist Is making sketches for ethno-
graphic and archaeological purposes.
The special band-drive cars used by
the expedition are the result of more
than 10 years experimental work on
a type of vehicle which will negotiate
rough and roadlesS areas. Each car,
with It's trailer, Is a separate unit and
can proceed for q number of days If
cut of from the rest of the expedi-
ton. The trailers carry tents. cots,
camp chairs and camp table. as well
as food supplies. Parts are inter-
changeable, and each car carries equip
ment for minor repairs, through q
land where there are no service sta
tionS en- route.