The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-01
English Disappointed

London, March 3l.-The long and im- patiently awaited news of Captain Soott's Antarctic expedition has at fast arrived but will bring the keenest disappointment to Engllshmen who had cherished the hope that the British expedition might after all prove to be first in the race for the south pole.
 On January 8, nearly three weeks after Amundsen hosted the Norwegian flag at the pole, Scott still had 150 miles to cover before attaining the object of his desire.
 Since the news of Amundsen's success full attempt. Englishmen have built great hopes on Captain Scott emulating, if not surpassing the Norweglans achievement. | It was known that Scott had chosen the 1 longer, and as Aitiupdsens experiences proved, the more difficult route, but pre-, | suming that he was favored by the sams exceptional weather conditions as Amund- sen. few doubted his success. Now comes the disappointing news that Scott Is spending another winter in { Antarctic and there will be fur thef weary waiting before it can he known whether he even succeeded m reaching the pole. According to some of Captain Seott's intimate friends here, however, no surprise need be felt at his decision 10 spend another winter In the south. this having been within the origi- nal scope of his intentions. They sug- gest that he may have learned of Amund- sens exploit. and thereupon determined to attempt q great Journey across the ice barrier, returning from the side al- most opposite to that from which he started.
 # this is so the Terra Nova probably received instructions to meet Scott at some fixed date at a point on the bar Tier opposite Graham Land not far to the south of Cape Horn. It will be re- membered that the German explorer. Lieutenant Filchner. Is operating from that side and In that case the two par ties may meet.
 In the absence of a fuller dispatch ex. pected from Scott, the tendency here Is to attribute his failure to the employ ment of ponies instead of dogs.
 His was the best equipped expedition that ever started for south polar regions. His final 800 mile dash for the pole start ed at the beginning of October. Beside Scott. his party consisted of Iieutenants Evans, Johnston and Bowers, c. c. Slmp- son, of the Indian survey department and c. H. Meares. the well known traveller.
 He expected to reach the pole before Christmas Evidently however. from the slow progress made over familiar ground. slower even than Shacketon's expedition made, unexpected difficulties were countered. Press dispatches from New Zealand last May contained hints of possible failure. The dispatch stated that Scott was making preparations for sec and attempt in case the first should be unsuccessful It was suggested that he had nisgivings about the ponies. and had arranged for the dispatch of some trained Indian transport mules. and also Siberian dogs, to replace the ponies.
 Whatever may have been the difficult ties, it is now clear that to Amundsen belongs the honor of first reaeHing south pole. Last news of Scott leaves him still 90 miles to go to equal Shackleton's farthest south in January 1909, and 1t is unlikely that any later news will be heard of him before October. Until then it will not be known whether he pushed on and reached the pole or was obliged 10 turn back and return to winter quar- ters.
 Another winter will make a period of two years that the Scott party will have worked in the south polar region.
 On June 1, 1910, his party sailed on the did whaler Terra Nova from London. Captain Scott joined the expedition in New Zealand and on November %, 1910 the pole hunters sailed from Port Chal- n1ers, N. Z.
 Captain Scott had the experience of two previous expeditions to rely upon On one he reached 23 degrees IS minutes and B seconds in 1902
 He took 20 Siberian ponies and three motor sledges on the expedition, well as dogs The part landed In McMurdo Bay in January. Ill.