THE ANTARCTIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 345, 22 March 1910, Page 5

THE ANTARCTIC.

SHACKLETOVS SCIENTIFIC EXPi»DITION. PROFESSOR DAVID'S VIEWS By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright | Sydney, March 21. I Professor David considers' the area Sir Ernest Shackieton proposes to explore offers great possibilities from a geographical and general scientific aspect. Possibly another visit be made to the magnetic pole, information regarding which is of much im<portance, not only to science but to navigation. Mr Mawson, he adds, will be an ideaj scientific director. DR. BRUCE'S EXPEDITION. London, March 20. Great efforts are being made in {scotland to raise fund's for Dr Bruce's An tarctic Expedition. CAPTAIN SCOTT'S AMBITION. London, February It is now possible to give a t'u ler outline of Captain Scott's plans for the conquest of the South Pole. He hopes to start in June with twenty-five men. Another twenty-esgnt will be picked up in New Zealand to form the landing parties. When thev get to the South they will use the quarters built by Sir Ernest Shackleton, where twenty-two imen will he landed. Six more will be landed at King Edward's' Land, to take meteorological observations and study the graphy of that locality. Captain Sco*t hopes to reach the barrier ice in December of the present year. Only half the summer will then remain, and the time will be, occupied until the wiater il>egins in the end of April in lay : ng out depots of provisions to the southward ao as to facilitate the journey to the Pole in the following summer. He is' taking with him twenty ponies, twenty-five dogs, and some motorsledges, which will be employed in thi3 work and in the attempt to reach the Pole. That will entail a march over the ice of 800 miles, and he hopes! to reach the Pole on or before December 22, 1911.

Captain Scott is anxious to get to the Pole on that date, because at th"? summer solstice observations' will be taken which will enable fhe situation of the Pole to be very accurately determined, If all goes well tliey snould get back to the landing place about April, 1912, and be able to return to England in the same year. The main journey for the Pole, said Captain Scott this week, would probably start in October, 1911. They would have to get over 800 mtles, Mid the probability was that they couM n'ot do more than ten or fifteen miles a' day. With the various l means of traction he hoped they would be able to carry a great quantity of food 200 or .'OO miles to the south over the great ice barrier, and make' a big depot there, and from that place he hoped not only to send, or go, with a party to the South Pole, but also to send other pa - ties in various directions to do a good deal of exploring. He hoped great things of the motor-sledges. If he could not get to the Pole at the first attempt he hoped to do it the next year, and if they failed then he hoped the young men who were going with him would want to try a third time. When they got their base established, tile party would not leave that place until the thing was done. He did not sav it in auv boastful spirit; he did nr>t say he would do it; but the main thing was to lay downt plans so that I some British subject should be the first I to reach the South Pole.