ANNUAL CRUISE

Doctor Charcot is going to leave again aboard the Why Pas? He will mainly deal with underwater geology, he tells us.

Frigate captain and doctor, Jean Charcot, we can call him that, directly, because his popularity is of the highest standard, will start again on his “Why Not? » for a distant expedition, from where, as always, he will bring back observations which will increase man's scientific conquests.

Is it good, we asked him, at the Rockall bench. then to the Faroe Islands, which you are going to go to? And we hope a lot from your new expedition...

The “Why Not?” » tames the malicious waves and the doctor-captain Jean Charcot laughs at the storms; but with our whys and our hows we come to break, we, on the courteous and firm modesty of Doctor Charcot.

— I will leave, in fact, he told us, on June 1st. Come back in three or four months, I will tell you what I saw, what I did, very willingly; for the moment, an interview is premature...

— However, your expedition?...
— Like every summer
Our interlocutor smiles and says:

— You see, you exaggerate right away; It's not about expedition, a bit of a big word, but about simple cruising. A cruise like the Why-Pas? in fact one every year since it existed, that is to say since 1908. Every year, except during the war, where the Why-Pas? and I occupied ourselves with more pressing necessities and less peaceful work. But, with the war over in 1918, the Why-Pas? has resumed its annual expeditions.

Discretion is a journalistic fault; we guard against this defect and we insist:

— What is the first aim of your investigations this year?
— In three or four months, repeats our eminent interlocutor, I will not tell you what our plans were, I will let you know the results that we will have obtained. Admit that it will be preferable and that your interview will gain in interest.

We admit... insisting; Doctor Jean Charcot then gives us an indication:
— It is underwater geology that we will mainly focus on. Come back in four months, I’ll be there…

These words are said with magnificent confidence. The great explorer goes on an expedition as we would go to the suburbs... to Neuilly, where the doctor worked out the details of his next cruise.