South | Page 2

Trans-continental Party.
"The first crossing of the Antarctic continent, from sea to sea via the
Pole, apart from its historic value, will be a journey of great scientific
importance.
"The distance will be roughly 1800 miles, and the first half of this,
from the Weddell Sea to the Pole, will be over unknown ground. Every
step will be an advance in geographical science. It will be learned
whether the great Victoria chain of mountains, which has been traced
from the Ross Sea to the Pole, extends across the continent and thus
links up (except for the ocean break) with the Andes of South America,
and whether the great plateau around the Pole dips gradually towards
the Weddell Sea.

"Continuous magnetic observations will be taken on the journey. The
route will lead towards the Magnetic Pole, and the determination of the
dip of the magnetic needle will be of importance in practical
magnetism. The meteorological conditions will be carefully noted, and
this should help to solve many of our weather problems.
"The glaciologist and geologist will study ice formations and the nature
of the mountains, and this report will prove of great scientific interest.
"Scientific Work by Other Parties.
"While the Trans-continental party is carrying out, for the British Flag,
the greatest Polar journey ever attempted, the other parties will be
engaged in important scientific work.
"Two sledging parties will operate from the base on the Weddell Sea.
One will travel westwards towards Graham Land, making observations,
collecting geological specimens, and proving whether there are
mountains in that region linked up with those found on the other side of
the Pole.
"Another party will travel eastward toward Enderby Land, carrying out
a similar programme, and a third, remaining at the base, will study the
fauna of the land and sea, and the meteorological conditions.
"From the Ross Sea base, on the other side of the Pole, another party
will push southward and will probably await the arrival of the Trans-
continental party at the top of the Beardmore Glacier, near Mount
Buckley, where the first seams of coal were discovered in the Antarctic.
This region is of great importance to the geologist, who will be enabled
to read much of the history of the Antarctic in the rocks.
"Both the ships of the Expedition will be equipped for dredging,
sounding, and every variety of hydrographical work. The Weddell Sea
ship will endeavour to trace the unknown coast-line of Graham Land,
and from both the vessels, with their scientific staffs, important results
may be expected.

"The several shore parties and the two ships will thus carry out
geographical and scientific work on a scale and over an area never
before attempted by any one Polar expedition.
"This will be the first use of the Weddell Sea as a base for exploration,
and all the parties will open up vast stretches of unknown land. It is
appropriate that this work should be carried out under the British Flag,
since the whole of the area southward to the Pole is British territory. In
July 1908, Letters Patent were issued under the Great Seal declaring
that the Governor of the Falkland Islands should be the Governor of
Graham Land (which forms the western side of the Weddell Sea), and
another section of the same proclamation defines the area of British
territory as 'situated in the South Atlantic Ocean to the south of the 50th
parallel of south latitude, and lying between 20 degrees and 80 degrees
west longitude.' Reference to a map will show that this includes the
area in which the present Expedition will work.
"How the Continent will be crossed.
"The Weddell Sea ship, with all the members of the Expedition
operating from that base, will leave Buenos Ayres in October 1914, and
endeavour to land in November in latitude 78 degrees south.
"Should this be done, the Trans-continental party will set out on their
1800-mile journey at once, in the hope of accomplishing the march
across the Pole and reaching the Ross Sea base in five months. Should
the landing be made too late in the season, the party will go into winter
quarters, lay out depots during the autumn and the following spring,
and as early as possible in 1915 set out on the journey.
"The Trans-continental party will be led by Sir Ernest Shackleton, and
will consist of six men. It will take 100 dogs with sledges, and two
motor-sledges with aerial propellers. The equipment will embody
everything that the experience of the leader and his expert advisers can
suggest. When this party has reached the area of the Pole, after
covering 800 miles of unknown ground, it will strike due north towards
the head of the Beardmore Glacier, and there it is hoped to meet the
outcoming party from the Ross