SOUTH POLAR FLIGHT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3372, 29 December 1919, Page 5

SOUTH POLAR FLIGHT.

MR J. L. C“OPE’S PLANS.

LONDON, Dec. 25.

The Lord Mayor of London, presided at the Mansion House at a meeting of the committee appointed to obtain funds for the Imperial ‘Antarctic Expedition. Mr J. L. Cope, leader of the expedition, outlined the programme of the proposed journey. °

In connection with the Antarctic expedition, it is intended to fly over thc Great Barrier peaks, some of which are 12,000 ft, to the South Pole. Cope, in" outlining the programme at the Mansion House, said he anticipated the expedition would maintain communication with civilisation by means of powerful wireless. The object of the expedition was to develop the Antarctic regions commercially The expedition would proceed to Wellington, New Zealand, re-‘aching Masquarie Island on October, 1920, when a geological Survey would bg made. The Terra Nova would then go» to Scott Island, and establish a wireless and meteorological sta.-tion, thence to Ross Sea, probably making their headquarters at New Harbour. The vessel ~would then go to Cape Crozier, where .9, party would he landed, and"a..notller would set out on the Barrier, going as far south as possible to establish a winter ‘observation camp, returning to Cape Crozier the following summer, ‘The Terra. Nova would return to‘ Wellington for the purpose of coaling, and provisioning for a four years’ commission on a circumn.avigatory trip of the Antarctic Continent.

AN INTERESTING EXPEDITION.

PROSPECTING ANTARTICA‘

BRITISH-AUSTRAL ENTERPRISE. ’ "

Received 8.50 a.m.

LONDON, Dec. 26.

Cope is advancing plans for an interesting expedition to discover minerals, precious stones, and other wealth, in the Antarctic, and to mark out new fields for British-Australian enterprise. £20,000 have been promised, and £150,000 are required. Cope expects to start for Wellington in June 1920. The Terra Nova cost £25,000; s-he shortly returns from New Foundland, when another £25,~ 000 will be spent to refit, including a powerful wireless outfit, and oil engines to displace steam. . ‘ *

The explorers rely especially on a big four-seater aeroplane, designed to carry a sledge an-d large supplies of fuel, photographic materials and food. The Ministry will provide a crew for which there is keen competition. The aviators will carry out all inland surveying supplemented by numerous still photographs and sweeping cinema pictures. The areoplane is provided with iceskids, and thirty dogs will sledge the shorter surveys. There will be a staff of 54, whereof the shore parts’ number seventeen, the maJ'ol'itY Of which are/scientists and Australians. Cope is confident the climate will not prove more severe, and that natural difiiculties will will not be greater than those in Silbera and at Klondyke, the Wealth of which will probably be equal.