BRITAIN AND EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTIC

Chronicle (Levin), 17 April 1947, Page 5

BRITAIN AND EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTIC

Received Wednesday, 7.0 p.m. LONDON. April 16. Though the British Governmcnt has not yet indicated whetlier it will give linancial support to the Anglo-Xor-wegian-Swedish Antarctic expedition to the Norwegian territorv of Queen Alaud's Land plauned for the -end of 1948, the Royal Air Force is preparing to cooperate and may send aircraft as well as tec-hnicians. Squadron Leader J. F. Davis, of the Air Ministrv's directorate of navigation, with Mr. L. P. Kirwan, director of the Royal Geographical Society, are going to Oslo shortly for discussions with the Norwegians. The particular interest of the R.A.F. would be in such subjects as the behaviour of the compass near the Houth Pole. the operation of engines in low tempei atures and navigational problems. There is a probability that Major General Riiscr-Larsen who was second on eommand of the EllsworthAmundsen expedition to Ihe Arctic in 1925, will lead the expedition. Commnnder of the jNorwegiitn Air Force in London duringrthe war and now an official of Scandinavian Air Lines, he will be released from his official duties to assist with the inital phases of the expedition and.it' is hoped that h^ will eventuallv take charge. The namo ot the deputy le'ader who will be British, is not vet mentioned. Mr. C. X. Watson-Muni'o, of the New Zealand Bcieniific and Tndustrial Rosearch Department, is to represent. the Dominion on the Antarctic Researcli Comi.nittee which is comprised of mem-; bers of the Royal Geograrhical Societv and Ecott Polar Researcli Institute at Cambridge. The society has eontributted £2000 towards the expedition 's expenses. Mr. Watson-Mqnro is at present aitached to the atomic energy re search esf ablishment at Harwell near Didcot.