INTERNATIONAL RACE FOR THE SOUTH POLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 231, 24 November 1900, Page 1

INTERNATIONAL RACE FOR THE SOUTH POLE.

AH KNOBMOUS EXHBHSB. ,- Brra the South Pole will shortly be •' haggled over by the Powers. The ' German and British Governments have ' decided to each tieod an expedition to the Sooth Pole nut year. The leaders of the German expedition, ProfessDr "V. Drygaiski and Sir John Murray, * believe that conjoined efforts would be advantageous and that it would be 'well for the British dsputment to have two vessels. It was hoped thot the * Scotch geographers would off* to <■ famish this second ship, bu", unfortunately, they prefer conducting an in- - dividual Polar expedition. Ihe oat ' of the Scotch expeditioa will .probably •mount to some £35,000, one-third of which amount has already been subi' crioed* William' 8. Bruce, who conducted the Autarotio expedition in ' 1892, will probably take charge of next year's tour. Ihe destination of the German expedition is to be the land south of the Indian Ocean, while the British will •ail for Victoria Land. A third ex•ir pedition will prob»bly advance to An- - tarotio regions soatb of the American ■ Continent. The Scotch expedition z 1 intends landing on.Graham's Land, * -and will remain there -lit* the winter, f 3he ship will be built on the style of a * Norwegian or Scotch whsl.r, will have d - m capacity of 500 ton*, and be able to make seven to eight knots. It will .' leave on Aaguit 1.1901. Upon reaching Graham's Land, five ■dentistvinolodiog Bruce, will remain in a block hoase containing ample j>rowisions for the party for three years, . while the ship will sail back to the " Falkland Islands. Bruce and his '■' companions will prosecute scientific ■-' observations during the winter, and ' in the spring of 1902 will undertake • topographical expedition with s'edges t" and dogs. In the summer of 1902 the ''~ahip will return and bring further f provisions for two yeais, for everything continues satisfactorily the station will "be abandoned only in 1904. The party at Graham's Land will thus have 'v Beans of subsistence for five years, so ~isbat in ease of an accident to the ship {■ which is to return for them, they will wu'be in no immediate danger of starva- "' The ship, meanwhile, which wi'l ' have a scientist on board, will spend ', the winter of 1901-1902 near South */ Georgia, the Sandwich Islands, and -" the other Islands of this gronp, to ':■ 'serve a station fjr meterological and -' 'inagnetio observation*. u This is a comprehensive scheme. authorities have sancxoied ' 4£tk and if it can be cariiad through Successfully the result v/iil be t x iiemeiy gratifying. Ihe success of the whole affair will, natur.il y depend largely upon the more or less advantigtoas landing iff :cted by ths scientific party with a view to ihtirstedge expeditions. On the other hand, once having landed, the safety ef the Bc.entifij detachment will virtually be assured, for in case of the failure of a relief party to reach them, it will not ba a'difficult task for them to reach the northern point of Graham's Land, which usually is > within ready access.