Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1947 RENEWED INTEREST IN ANTARCTICA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 15, 11 April 1947, Page 4

Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1947 RENEWED INTEREST IN ANTARCTICA

ONE of the few remaining unexplored regions of the globe is the great continent about the South Pole, Antarctica, a vast landmass, icebound and of infinite possibilities. Interest in this little-known continent has been revived by news of a great American expedition of 13 ships under the command of Admiral Byrd, due to sail shortly. At the same time it has been divulged that a British expedition has been there quietly working away for the past five .years, and thus through much of the war period. There is also talk of a Russian expedition and one from Australia is mooted. Details of the American organisation brings to mind, in striking contrast, those of explorers Scott and Shackleton of Britain and Amundsen of Norway of a past generation. How meagre were their resources of finance, manpower and supplies. The Antarctica is quite unlike the regions of the North Pole which are largely of pack-ice and contain but little land. At the south there is a huge continent and an indication of its area is given by mention in the cables of the prospect of planes flying inland for perhaps 700 miles—as far as from Britain to Italy. There are huge mountain ranges rising to peaks of 13,000 feet and more, some of which are volcanic, both active and otherwise. Coal is known to be present and uranium is now sought, for it has become the most precious ore in the world. That would be one strong inducement to any nation to seek discoveries in the far south. There may be other inducements. The American message mentions military strategy. It is almost Martian to picture the Antarctica as a military base, yet in this atomic age, with jet-propulsion and all other such developments of a kindred nature, no portion of the globe is devoid of strategic interest. Of a more peaceful nature is the prospect of learning more of the weather that comes to New Zealand, for this is said to originate from the South Pole. It is probable that within a few years Australia and New Zealand will have jointly established meteorological stations down at this polar region and with their aid much more accurate forecasting would be possible.