June 2, 1922] 



SCIENCE 



585 



are being made for the coming summer's work. 

 The personnel consists of 25 men as follows : 

 Scientific Staff: 



Eoy Chapman Andrews, leader and zoologist. 



Walter Granger, paleontologist. 



Charles P. Berkey, geologist. 



Frederick Morris, geologist and topographer. 



J. B. Shackelford, cinematographer. 



S. Baj'ard Colgate, motor transportation 

 officer. 



Persender, assistant transportation officer. 



F. A. Larsen, field manager. 

 Native Personnel: 



3 Chinese taxidermists. 



3 Chinese cooks. 



2 Chinese chauffeurs. 



3 Mongol interpreters (Chinese-Mongol). 

 6 camel drivers. 



AREA TO BE INVESTIGATED 



Central and Western Mongolia from a line 

 between Kalgan and Urga, west to the eastern 

 extension of the Altai and Tian Shan Moun- 

 tains and south to the frontier of Chinese 

 Turkestan. This region, part of which lies be- 

 tween two old caravan trails, consists of the 

 most arid section of the Gobi Desert, of rolling 

 meadowlands and foothills at the bases of high 

 mountains, some of which are covered with 

 perpetual snow. 



The Third Asiatic Expedition will carry on 

 a reconnaissance of its zoology, geology, pale- 

 ontology and geography. This survey will be 

 preparatory to a more detailed study if the 

 future of the region proves to be of sufficient 

 scientific interest. 



PLAN OF OPEEATIONS 



Due to the short summer advantage must be 

 taken of the warm months when scientific 

 studies can be carried on successfully. This is 

 between April 15 and October 1. After these 

 months snowstorms are of such frequent occur- 

 rence that effective work is difficult. 



The expedition has purchased 75 camels 

 which are already on their way to a point 

 known as Turin, 175 miles south of Urga, 

 transporting food, gasolene, motor equipment 

 and scientific apparatus sufficient for six 

 months. At Turin they will await the other 

 members of the expedition. 



On April 19 the remainder of the party will 

 leave Kalgan in three Dodge motor cars and 



two Fulton one-ton motor trucks. They will 

 begin scientific work immediately after leaving 

 Kalgan and proceed slowly to Turin to connect 

 with the caravan. From Turin the caravan 

 will be sent westward towards a region known 

 as Sain Noin Khan. The scientific staff will 

 ■ follow in the motor cars. After proceeding for 

 perhaps a hundred miles a camp will be made 

 and the smaller automobiles will be utilized by 

 the scientific party to carry on their work. 

 Horses and camels will be used to explore such 

 regions as can not be reached by the cars. After 

 working in a circle about the first camp the 

 scientists will move a few hvindred miles 

 further and the same method repeated. The 

 geologist, paleontologist and topographer will 

 occupy one car, the zoologists a second and the 

 photographer a third. Each party will be a 

 complete mobile unit equipped with its own 

 cook, driver and assistants and can remain 

 away from the base camp as long as it is de- 

 sirable. 



By the use of motors for rapid transporta- 

 tion over the less interesting areas, it is be- 

 lieved that three seasons' work can be done in 

 six months. The camel caravan will be sent 

 ahead from place to place, thus acting as a 

 movable base and as a reserve if the motor 

 transportation does not prove as successful as 

 is expected. Tlie use of motor vehicles in this 

 remote region is an experiment which should 

 have considerable importance in demonstrating 

 how accessible the country can be made in the 

 future. The motors are equipped with all the 

 latest devices and such a complete assortment 

 of spare parts is being carried that it would 

 be possible almost to construct a complete car 

 if one was disabled. Mr. S. Bayard Colgate, 

 who has charge of the motor transportation, is 

 an expert in his line and has spent several 

 weeks in the Fulton and Dodge factories 

 familiarizing himself with every detail of the 

 construction and repair of the ears. 



Supplies of gasolene, oil, food and other 

 essentials will be obtained every four or five 

 days from the camel caravan which will be sent 

 ahead from point to point as the field of opera- 

 tions is changed. 



It is proposed to bring back a very complete 

 record in motion pictures of the work of the 



