Vans Explore Unknown Sahara
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IN spite of much exploration during recent years there is still a portion of the Sahara which remains completely blank, even on the most up-todate maps. This is the district stretching between the Hoggar mountains and Tibesti, known as the Tonere region.
An official expedition left Paris last week under the leadership of Capt. Wauthier, the well-known pilot, to survey this district on behalf of the Colonial Ministry. The chief object of the expedition, apart from geographical survey work, is to ascertain the possibility of establishing a motor route through the eastern Sahara, similar to those already existing in other parts of the great desert.
Two Latil vehicles are being employed, each provided with wireless transmitting and receiving apparatus, and a three-engined, all-metal aero plane. The Laths are standard 3tonners with twin rear wheels and specially large radiators. Each has a cruising range of 4,000 kiloms., _because it has a 1,000-litre reserve fuel tank and a drinking-water tank of similar capacity.
The route followed will be via Algiers. El Golea, M. Salah, Arak, Tamanrasset and Ardoud, whence the examination of
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the unexplored country will begin. The final goal of the expedition is El Facher, in the British Sudan, so that, should the idea of a motor route eventually be realized, it will form a link between French North Africa and British East African territory. The staff of the expedition comprises eight persons, including a woman, Madame de Bomberghen, whose object in joining the expedition is to carry out work of considerable importance on behalf of the Trocsdero ethnographical museum.