WILKINS’ PLAN

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1930, Page 5

WILKINS’ PLAN

rUuited Press Association—By Electric Te legraph.—Copy right. ]

NEW YORK, March 19,

Sir H. Wilkins, interviewed, stated that since he had not had time to peruse his mail, he was unable to know what his plans would be for the inmediate future, He said he hoped to visit Australia as soon ns possible for a discussion for the establishment otf weather stations in the Antarctic, and other matters.

“It is certainly fine to be back,” he said. Although he knew nothing of details, he was watching with great interest the development of AVorsley’s proposed Antarctic expedition. Sir H. Wilkins seemed to prefer not to mention the subject of the various national claims to the Antarctic

He said that on his Arctic expedition ten men to he carried on the submarine would be the total complement of his p'-’-ty. He discussed enthusiastically the benefits to be derived by northern countries, especially Canada, Alnsaka, and Russia, if commercial undersea craft*could be developed to cnrrv cargoes beneath the ice as from New York and San Francisco via tv,o North Pole, which he stated he believed to he very possible. NEW YORK. March 20 Tn his interview Sir H. Wilkins stated that owing to the length of time necessary for the preparation, he will not start bis Arctic trip until the summer of 19.11, and probably bis plan will be on fnlUng about a month to cross from Alaska to Spitsbergen. His plants have been drawn up for a special .submarine, the builder of which Sir H. WO kins does not wish to name now.

He said: “As for the danger thereof, it will not he nearly as hazardous as the aeroplane flight, in which if we had been forced down, we would have been probably lost, as we could not walk hack over two thousand miles of ice. A submarine crossing will not he nearly as dangerous, as we can find holes, nr bore openings in the ice, which is not nearly so thick in the summer, as is popularly supposed.”

SIR HUBERT WILKINS,

WILL NOT USE AEROPLANES

(Received this dnr nt 9. a.n,A NEW YORK. March 20

Sir Hubert Wilkins states he lias given up the use of an aeroplane in all further expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic. “The aeroplane is suitable for preliminary reconnoitring,” be said, “it is not, however, any use for making detailed surveys or scientific studies of laud already discovered. No doubt a great deal cf reconnaissance work remains to he done Ivoth in the Arctic and in the Antarctic but so lar as I am concerned I am through with flying in either place.”