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Show I PRESIDENT ISSUES STATEMENT AS TO HIS HUNTING TRIP TO AFRICA WASHINGTON. Dec. 5. resident Roosevelt today. In a statement propared by Secretary Wnlcott of tho Smithsonian Institution, mude his first official announcement an-nouncement regarding tho hunting trip to Africa, on which ho will start within .wo weeks after ho retires from tho presidency. presi-dency. The expedition I3 to bo outfitted by tho Smithsonian Institution, tho president defraying his own expenses, nnd will gather natural history materials for the new national museum. Mombassa will be reached In April, next year, but no detailed Itinerary beyond thnt place has been mado except tho general routo to Victoria Nyanaa and thence down tho Nile to Khartoum, whoro It is expected the party will arrlvo about April 19. The ofllclal statement, In part, follows: "In March. 1009. Theodore Roosevelt will head a scientific expedition to Africa, outfitted by tho Smithsonian institution and departing from New York City. This expedition will gather natural history materials ma-terials for the government collections, to be deposited by the Smithsonian Institution Institu-tion hi the new United States national museum at Washington, D. C. Besides the president and his son, Kcrmlt Roosevelt, Roose-velt, the personnel of tho party, on leaving leav-ing New York, will consist of three representatives rep-resentatives of the Smithsonian Institution Institu-tion MaJ. Edgar A. Mearns, medical corps U. S. A., retired; Edmund Hollor, and J. Aldcn Lorlng. On arriving In Africa Af-rica the party will bo enlarged by tho addition of R. G. Chlnnghame, who la now In Africa, preparing tho president's outfit. He will havo cITargo of a number num-ber of native portors, who. with necessary neces-sary animals, will bo formed Into a small caravan. "Mr. Roosevelt and his son will kill tho big game, tho skins and skeletons of which will bo prepared and shipped to tho United Slates by other members of tho parly. Kormlt Roosevelt is to bo the ofllclal of-llclal photographer of tho expedition. "Tho national collections aro very deficient de-ficient In nntural history materials from tho dark continent, and an effort will be mado by tho expedition to gather general gen-eral collections In zoology and botany, but tho main effort will be to collect tho largo nnd vanishing African animals. No fears m-d be entertained for tho president's presi-dent's surety from tho attacks of man or beast, as ovory member of tho party Is an excollent rifle shot 'The party will reach Mombassa In April. 1909. No detailed Itinerary has been decided upon, but tho general route will bo up the Uganda railway to Nalrodl and Victoria Nyanza. a dlstnnco of about CHO miles bv rail, thonco crossing cross-ing Into Uganda, and finally passing down tho Nile to Cairo. Much of tho hunting will bo dono In British East Africa, Af-rica, whoro tho Uganda railroad can bo used as a baso of supplies and means of rendy transportation. At least ono great mountain, possibly Mount Kcnia, will be visited "Khartoum will bo reached. If all gos well, about April. 1910. The expedition may bo expected to spend about one year on African soil." |