Calgary Herald, 22 March 1924

Ex-Calgarian to Lead Scientific Party in Africa

WE Cutler is entrusted with important excavation researches

Is highly praised by London Times

Expedition is being sent out in behalf of British Museum

It has been announced that sufficient funds have now been raised to permit the British Museum to send an exhibition to East Africa for the purpose of unearthing several prehistoric fossils of dinosaurs and other animals and according to the London Times, WE Cutler, who was formerly a resident of Calgary, and who is considered one of the greatest authorities on work of this kind, has been chosen to head the expedition.  Mr. Cutler conducted successful excavations for prehistoric specimens in the Red Deer River Band Lands. He acted in behalf of a Calgary syndicate.

Speaking of Mr. Cutler’s ability, “Science,” under the date of March14, says: “Mr. Cutler has for many years had an unrivaled experience of collecting for the British Museum and other museums, large dinosaurian and similar fossils in North America, and is therefore conversant with the methods of extracting the specimens from the matrix and packing them in such a way as to withstand the stress and strain of the journey to the museum.

Germans Secure Specimens

It has been stated that during the time that East Africa was under the control of the Germans, several splendid specimens of Dinosaurian and other Paleozoic creatures were unearthed and removed to museums in Germany with some information as to the possibilities in the venture the directors of the British Museum have been considering the possibility of sending an expedition to East Africa for the past five years.

Mr. Cutler’s Assistant

LSB Leakey, of St John’s College, Cambridge, who was born in Kenya colony, and whose father is a clergyman near Nairobi, will be Mr. Cutler’s white assistant on the expedition and has been chosen to fill this office because of his knowledge of native habits, language and customs in that section of the world. Mr. Leakey is a specialist on birds, mammals and plants and will make several collections of specimens of this nature while the expedition is in East Africa.

Sites of Excavation

The sites in which the expedition will operate are about four days’ march north and slightly west of Lindi at a place called Tendaguru.  It was in this locality that the Germans unearthed the famous gigantosaurus. This site is now overgrown with a dense mass of foliage and is only sparsely inhabited but it is believed that the field may be opened up for excavation purposes without any great difficulty. Another area about two miles east in the Moemkuru Valley will also be investigated.  The working season of the year is confined to the months from May until December and during the wet season when about 17 inches of rain is precipitated both exploration and excavation are practically impossible.

Sir Horace Byatt, governor of the Tanganyika Territory has offered every assistance at his disposal to make the expedition a success and the trustees who are baking the expedition are hopeful that great results may be obtained.