IN THE ANTARCTIC.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 320, 24 December 1929, Page 5

IN THE ANTARCTIC.

ABOARD THE DISCOVERY. Prospect of Lonely Christmas. Sir Douglas Mawson has finished coaling at Kerguelen and has set uis compass for the Pole. Heard Island, to the South of Kerguelen, the home of sea elephants and antarctic gulls, will be the last known island to be visited by the “ Discovery ” before it enters the world of ice. Already some valuable work has been done during the stay at Kerguelen in making accurate charts of the coastline and general survuy work. The island was once the resort of hundreds of American whalers, but is now visited only by a fleet of whaling and sealing steamers from Capetown once each summer. A cargo of coal has been taken on at Kerguelen which will be the .final cargo for the antarctic cruise. Every available has been used for stowing briquettes. The success of the expedition will depend very largely on the coal available and as bunker space on the “ Discovery ” is very restricted a large space on the deck has been devoted to coal storage. Some time has been spent in making the cargo secure in the event of the expedition running into rough weather.

THE COAST OF ANTARCTICA. The “ Discovery ” will approach the coast of Antarctica and seek a way through the ice into a landing place. It is improbable that the ship will be able to steam along keeping the shore in sight for any great distances. The seaplane will be valuable as a means of filling in the gaps with photographs. Already Captain Hurley has obtained some fine photographs from Mt. Ross, 6000 feet above sea level, on Kerguelen, down the slopes of which avalanches constantly descend with the noise of rolling thunder. In the ice region the surface of ice and sea should be calm, but when heavy gales are blowing the “ Discovery ” will have to seek shelter in the lee of the icebergs that stretchunbroken for miles. There is little chance of rivalry in this lonely sector of the antarctic. Only a ship like the “ Discovery ” the strongest wooden ship in the world-—could force her way against the resistance of the solid ice. After six months of exploration, before the winter night closes down over the antarctic, the “ Discovery ” will steer out of the icefields and shapfe a course for Australia. The first part of her task will, have been accomplished; and whatever geographical discoveries may have been made, there is no doubt that a tremendous reception will await the explorers on their return home.

Meanwhile, the “Discovery” is carrying a more complete scientific equipment than any previous expedition into polar seas. There is even an X-ray plant on board. The ship’s company of the “ Dis covery ” will spend the loneliest Christmas in the world this year, cut off from civilisation by thousands of miles or stormy sea. VARIED ASSORTMENT OF PROVISIONS.

Food provisions for the “ Discovery’s ” crew include 15 live sheep, which occupy a pen amidships where the dogs are usually carried. Bales of fodder have been packed between the aeroplane cases, and the Shell Oil Company was responsible for the scientific stacking of large quantities of paraffin and oil cases in the stern. Many additional items of equipment—from blankets to test-tubes for the scientists—are stowed away in the strong wooden hull of the “ Discovery,” the most important item to be taken on board being a supply of dynamite. This may have to be used to blast channels through ■,the ice along the coasts of Antarctica. Sir Douglas Mawson has spent some of the busiest hours of his life preparing the ship for sea, and, as it stands, it is a monument to his untiring energy and detailed attention to every possible contingency that might arise.

THE LEADER’S CABIN. Sir Douglas Mawson occupies a small cabin at the after end of the wardroom. It contains only a bunk, writing desk, wardrobe and washstand, and shelves tightly packed with books. None of the cabins have portholes, so that the thick wooden sides of the ship are not weakened in any way.

There are so many members of the wardroom mess that two sittings have been arranged for meals; Sir Douglas Mawson presiding at the first, and Commander M. H. Moyes, R.A.N., navigating and surveyofficer, at the second.

Everybody on the expedition is already at work. A chain of soundings, taken with the wonderful echosounding device, which gives the depth almost instantly, began when the boat was scarcely a day out of Cape Town, and will be continued throughout the cruise.