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.