The Washington herald., 1912-02-18

London, Feb. I7-"south pole discov-
cred"
Any day now that message may be
flashed over the cables and telegraph
wires that encIrcle the globe. The sender
| may be an EngIishman, a Norwegian, ar
Australian, a German, or a Japanese.
Five expeditions, carrying the standards
OF as many different countries, have been
battling against the cold and ice OF the
antarctic for more than two years, and
the first Of them Is expected TO return
in touch with the outside world about
this time.
Stewards Island, south OF New Zea-
land, is the first habitation that will be
reached by the explorers on their return
trips. A telephone connects the island
with New Zealand, from where cable
grams will be sent out
What ShackletOn Says.
In this great five-cornered competition
for the sake OF science, and incidentally
fame. the most celebrated contestants
are Capt Robert Falcon Scott. OF Eng
land. and Capt. iPoald Amundsen, of Nor
way. The Australian. Mawson. is lead
ing q third band, and the japanese and
German expeditions complete the entry
list in the unprecedented race. Never
before have so many expeditions been in
either polar region at one time.
Competition Is called the life OF
trade" said Sir Ernest Shackleton to-
day, and I believe that the spirit OF
contest must have exercised such an in
fuence over the rival expeditions as to
spur at least one OF them TO achieving
the goal" Sir Shackleton Is the English
antarctic explorer who. in 1909. attained
the ''farthest SOUTH" getting TO latitude
IS degrees q minutes south, or within
10 miles Of the pole.
MY national pride makes me hope that
Scott will beat out Amundsen," he said,
and I have such confidence in him that
believe he has reached the pole whether
Amundsen has or not. know so little
a bout the German, Australian, and Japa-
nese expeditions that l cannot Justly
speculate on their success, but do not
believe. personally. that any OF them
has done as well as either Scott or
Amundsen."
Capt. Scott left England on June Q.
1910. waving good-by 10 his wife and baby
at Cardiff, Wales. He bade farewell to
at Christchurch, New Zealand.
on November ., and since then nothing
has been heard from him. His ship. the
whaler Terra Nova, has returned to New
Zealand and is awaiting the tele-
phoned command to go TO Stewards Is
as his brave companions.
The Scott expedition is the best equipped
that ever entered the south polar re-
gions. Fitted out by a government ap-
preparation OF $4,000 added to popular
OF the same amount, every
thing that could possibly be OF use was
purchased. Over a hundred Of the best
sledge dogs, as well as three
motor sIedges form part Of the equip
ment, and in the party are several OF the
foremost scientists, geographers, and as
tronomers in Britain.
Bases of Operation.
According to the plans Of Capt. Scott
outlined before he departed on his polar
quest. he would establish two bases on
the antarctic ice barrier. one at Mac |
Murdo Bay. the other at King Edwards |
Land or some $50 miles apart, to be. IL |
possible. connected by wireless teleg- |
-aphy. Each Of these bases would be |
about SO statute miles from the south !
pole, and by means of them both ends |
II the barrier would be explored. 1t is |
Known that MacMurdo Bay post was 1
securely established by Capt. Scott, the
lews having been brought back TO New
Zealand by his ship. the Terra Nova.
How much more has been accomplished
" the Englishrnan and his party is large
y a matter for conjecture. From the
iacMurdo Bay base, over the $50 miles
O the pole. the real work OF the expedi-
ion had TO be done. The explorer de-
Jared he expected to take from 10 to
50 days to make the journey to and
rom the base
Sentiment plays part in the plans Of
apt. Scott. who said before leaving that
e would have white men with him at
he pole. He commented on the fact that
Peary had a single lone negro
nth him when he reached the north pole.
colt declared that he would have six
zen men with him. on the final dash, in
ludIng the scientists of the party.
So well provisioned is the Scott eX-
edition that II would not be necessary
,r him to abandon the attempt in event
nat the first dash did not meet with
hccess. He could return to the base of
lpplies. rest during the "off-seasoh" and
turn TO the task refreshed during the
ext six months.
In fact, we shall jolly well stop there
II the thing is done" said Capt. Scott .
lst before he cut loose from ciyiliza-
on.
Can't. Scott is a veteran explorer. hav-
q attained Sreat success on his memor-
ole invasion Of the antarctic in 1904. /,
hen he reached the then ''farthest Z
,uth. >, retting to latitude So degrees :
iuutes e seconds south, or within $50
lies of the pole. Shackleton's expedI-
on Of 1909 was the only one that has sur :
lssed this.
The Norwegian, Capt. Amundsen. IL ex-
,,I.,rf,,.. tfg A,ef xrf4ff IN the anfar~ft. !