TO THE POLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 100, 25 May 1909, Page 4

TO THE POLE.

BY WELUIAX'S airship. •'Andrec hud a chance, but it was a very poor one. We are working out a scientilic problem with practical mechanical means, and if the weather gives 11s half an opportunity we shall get to the North Pole without a doubt. 5 ' The speaker was Mr. Melviu Vaniman, engineer to Mr. Walter "Wellmaii's second airship expedition to the North Pole. Mr. Vaniman was discussing with a Daily Chronicle representative the possibilities of the success of this second venture. The airship in which the attempt will foe made is the same, with somo improvements, which failed in 1907, and Mr. has brought it from Paris to the International Aero and Motor > Boat Exhibition at Olympia. "We are not building anything fantastic," Mr. Vaniman twent on. "I designed and constructed -the ship, and tin fact that I am going in it shows that I have confidence in its' ability to survive all dangers. We know everything that science and engineering skill can think of, and if anybody has an idea we shall be very glad to consider it." As at the previous attempt, the start will be made from Dane's Island, on the west coast of Spitsbergen. From Dane's Tsland the North Polo is distant only 700 statute miles, and Mr. Vaniman believes that the party can travel to their objective and back eas'ily in three days. There will be no halt at the Pole, assuming it is reached. As an alternative to turning back the voyagers couid, of course, reach Siberia or Alaska, provided they were no t driven towards Behring 4 Sea and the North Pacific. - "But." said Mr. Vaniman, with a shrug of his shoulders, "that would not foe as good as coming back; we want to bring our ship back to civilisation. • The weather at Dane's Island is* general'y very favorable, with an even temperature for 24 hours a day. The first .dav's work I did there in 1907 was done in my shirt-sleeves, Then there are no artificial difficulties such as tall buildings to interfere -with the starting and the navigation of the ship." . The starting of the airship (was a difficulty last time. It had to foe held down by forty men until the moment came for letting it "take the air." For this 1 trip Mr. Vaniman has devised a car which will hold the ship down until it is ready to leave the shed. The ship will take the car with it when it starts, but when it'begins to pick up the "eqnilibrator," or guide-rope, the car will be cut loose and allowed to fall to the ground. ' The "equilibrator" is one of the most ' extraordinary parts of the Wcllman airship's equipment. It is both a guidc- ' rope and a larder, for in addition to the ' provisions carried in the airship itself, ' the "equiliforator" will be packed in all its sections' with food of various kinds. ' This part of the vessel's equipment is snake-like ill appearance, 120 ft long, the ' sections being jointed together and covered with scales.

The YV'ellnian airship is constructed of material which mrikcG it impervious to everything except fire. It is not so largo as the German Zeppelin, but is', according to its designer and builder, more than double the size of the French Ville de I'aris or the British Nulli Secundns. Its length is 182 ft. and its diameter 52't. The petrol tank is 115 ft long, and carries three tons of petrol. T& envelope has a capacity of 7800 cubic metres, and the ship can carry a ton and a-half of provisions. Eight Esquimaux dogs ivi'.l be taken and three-sledges. These will be for travelling on the ice, if it should be necessary to come down, and iTi addition there mill be a boat if the travellers should have to take to open water. Inside the ship two 'iiallooncts'' ;rv suspended, and into these ai r may be admitted with the object of counteracting the expansion or contraction of the gas in the larger vessel. The expedition will be provided with sufficient food to last eight months. Tlie provisions will include large quantities of bacon, which Mr. Vaniman says is the most nourishing food that can be eaten in tlie arctic regions. "Wo have not the slightest desire to lose Our lives," said Mr. Vaniman, "and if we thought the danger of our expedition was greater than that of trying to cross the Strand at a busy time wo would stay at home. As a matter of fact, I don't see how we can get into a dangerous position."