The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-03
SOUTH POLE DASH
CAPTAIN SCOTT PREPARES HIS ITIN ERARY.
oaacial program is issued by the Eng- llsA Explorer Who, Plans
 Exploration For Next

Year.
 London, Oct. 2.-Capt. Scott has issu- ed his itinerary for his proposed dash for the South Pole next year. The fol- lowing is the ofiicial program.
 The mafn object. of this expedition fs ito reach the South Pole and. to se- cure. for thesBritisti Empire the honor of that achievement.yW < 5,a-
 The base hitherto used Is in McMurdo. Sound, and 1t might at first appear natural to confine a fl esh effort of this region. But the cause of science and the~tradition of British exploration make it desirable that every fresh ef- fort should be directed to breaking new ground. For this reason 1t is proposed to endeavor to establish 8 second base on King Edward VII Land 400 miles to the east of McMurdo Sound. - The new base may be difficult to es- tablizh, and 1t will certainly be ex- posed to the full rigcr of the Antarc- tic. climate. but, on the other hand. It's distance from the Pole will be no greater than that of the McMurdo Sound base, and the region about 1t Is entirely unknown. The attack on the Pole will be made from one or other of these bases. according to circumstan-
 The prohlsaa of reaching the South R0Ie Irox3 B 5W1htoEluB bthtAoh A5 A PAV- blern Of Transport. The distance to be covered, there and back. is about 1,50O miles; the1 time at disposal In a single season is about 150 travelling days. An average of ten/miles a day can be easily maintained by men, provided that sdequatea transport arrangements are made.
 There are three means by which the traction for heavy sledse loads can be rtw pd and each must be considered, not only with regard to capacity of work, but also with respect to the changes in the nature of the track to which reference has been made. gt
 MT. ShaaSleton has shown the brilli- ant results which may be achieved by pony traction on the Barrier surface. but he has also shown their unsuitabi- lity for work on glaciers.
 Doga if not overladen. could be used for glacier work. and might travel the whole distanceto the Pole if pro- ;periy husbahded by being lightly laden and well fed on the lower plateau.
 The motor sledge is a new develop ment, and bids fair to become the most promising means of polar transport.
 As q result of two years experiment a motor sledge has been evolved which has undergone satisfactory trial on the snows of Norway.
 The motor sledge's advantages may be briefly stated as follows:
 1. It is capable of accomplishing more work for the fuel expended than either the pony or the dog. ?. It expends no fuel when not ac- tually in use.
 8. It is sufficiently long to bridge dangerous crevasesses.
 The plan of the Journey to the South Pole from King Edward VII Land includes the use of the three means of sledge traction and described-ponies aill be taken in sufficient numbers to ensure thoroughly adequate amount of food being taken to the base of the glacier A dog team. with a relay oi men, will transport the loads over the glacier surface, and a picked party oi men and dogs will make the final dash across the island ice sheet Motor sledges will, according to theil proved capacity, be main agent or useful auxiliary to the transport plan there can be little doubt they will ascend 1t, and greatly simplify the difflculties of the further Journey. Ii | they fall to reach the glacier, they will at least, as far as they can be taken | relieve the ponies and dogs of weigh ts | and increase the safety of the return | journey.
 The scientlnc obJects oI the eApeu'' | ton may be briefly stated as follows: Geographical-to explore King Ed | ward VII. Land to throw further hEht | on the nature and extent of the Greai | Barrier ice formation and to continue | the survey of the high mountainous region of Victoria Land.
 Geological--To examine the entirely unknown region of King Edward VII Land. and to continue the survey od the rocks of Victoria Land. Metorological-To obtain synschro- nous observations at two fixed stations l as well as the weather recoroS oi ] slcdse journeys