AMBITIOUS PROJECT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 125, 19 January 1932, Page 5

AMBITIOUS PROJECT

i (Press. Assn.-

\ antarctic journey i young englishman's plan to cross* southern continent TO USE 'PLANE AND DOGS

— By Telegraph— Copyright).

Recj Jan. 18, 7,0 p.m.. ! ... ... - LONDON,. Monday. : ; Among the many- projects of l^Ir; H.- G. Watkins's - Antarctic expeditfon, is a "i5Q0 mile sledge journey ; ii) ihe upknown- country" from .-the Wedde.ll Sea to the Ross 'Sea, :on which the late Sir Etnest- Shackieton was unsuccessful-in 1914 ■ ♦" ' • Mr. Watkifts,-' who "will. be - accombanied by the rescuers- of Mr. Gour-t-apld, who was marooned - in > Greenland last- year} ' Mdssrs Rymill and Qhapman, also by Mr. Riley andYour others, will be the first to take the British flag across the South Polar continent to determine whether the unchartered tracts consist of lands, 6r if a great, sea connects,the Wed- : dell and Ross seas.- - " • ' The''expedition- plans to leave England" in the coming Autumn, and to ldave South Georgia at the ehd o'f 1 December. It will land the trans-coii-tinental part'y in Luitpold Land in Januar-y 1933- and establish V base from which an aeroplane with skis wili' make reconnaisances. The trip across the continent' will probably be made- in the following Qctober." " Mri Watkins is confid'ent that with specially trained dogsi'it will' be possible to cross to"Amundseri'& Ross Sea base in 4J months and rejoin-tha'ship in March; 1934. It will be the'iong'est journey \vithout depots ever undertaken. * , Mr. Watkins says he will b'e at least two years in the polar re'gioiis". He intends to establish a' ' proper meteorological station at which he shoiild ohtain data of immense value to Australia. ■ Mr. Watkins is only 24 years of &ge.