ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 284, 24 April 1911, Page 5

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

AN APPEAL TO WEALTHY AUSTRA- .. , LIANS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, April 22. Professors David, Henderson, Orme and Mason, on behalf of the Australian Antarctic Committc, in a lengthy joint letter to the Press, explain the objects of Dr. Mawson's expedition, and appeal to wealthy Australians for liberal support. EXPLORER'S FINANCIAL WORRIES. When the Fram finally set forth on her mission to the north, it was understood (writes "Icicle" in the Sydney Morning Herald) that Amundsen would adhere to his intention of accompanying her to Madeira, and then return home to settle various matters connected with the expedition, while the ship proceeded, in charge of her chief officer, to San Francisco, where he could rejoin her. in due course. It therefore caused great surprise when news reached Norway ' that Amundsen had changed his plan and left Madeira for Antarctica, in order to take part in the race to the South Pole. As a reason for this change lib states that interest in the North Polar exploration having diminished since Peary's return from the North Pole, he had been unable to obtain sufficient money with which to carry out his original scheme, but that by travelling to the southern axis of the world, and subsequently publishing an account of his adventures, he hoped to gain sufficient to allow of his meeting all liabilities and accomplishing the primal intention of proceeding to the north. In outlining his voyage he has now undertaken, he states that the Fram will, after landing him and his exploring party at some point on the coast of the Antarctic continent, proceed on a cruise of oceanographical research, and then make Punta Arenas her port of call, before proceeding for a time to Buenos Ayres, after which she. will return south in order to take off the polar party, and convey it to Lyttelton, New Zealand, in February or March, 1012, where the result of its attempt to reach the Farthest South would be made p'ublie. From Lyttelton •Amundsen intends to proceed in the Fram to San Francisco, and, after refitting, continue his voyage to the Arctic seas. Mr. Alex. Hcibcrg, a philanthropist, who has contributed large sums towards the equipment of polar expeditions, states that the change of plans was necessary owing to the expedition being in need of funds, and in debt to the extent of over .-C8350, the promised financial support from America having been withdrawn since Peary's return from the Pole. He thinks it not improbable that the ship would have been seized upon arrival at San Francisco for Amundsen's liabilities, and that he has consequently been compelled to deviate from his original plan, and endeavour by proceeding to the South Pole to subsequently obtain sufficient funds from his writings wherewith to clear off the debt and enable him to carry out his primary object, viz., the vovage of research in the North Polar basin.