Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-07

ponies and dogs. the steady depletion OF
stores and the loss of vitality of the party
making up the expedition.
= Capt. Amundsen had no ponies and no
motor sledge. as his experience led him
to place all his reliance on Siberian dogs.
The other compel tors in the race are
Lieut. William Fflchner OF the general
STAN Of the German array, Lieut.. n.
Shirase of the Japanese navy. and DR..
Douglass Mawson. representing Aus
traiia. Lieut.. Filchner followed largely
the plans of DIR. Nansen and sailed on
the steamer Deutschland October last.
He is daring explorer. having been one
OF the first to reach Lhassa in Tibet, and
much confidence was felt in him by the
Geographical Society of Berlin.
shirase Late in Starting.
The japanese explorer followed the
Shackleton route into Ross sea, but re-
turned to Sydney. Australia, in 1911 to
repair damage done in Terror bay. His
second start was not made until Novem-
Der last, SO that he is rather behind In
the race. DIR. Mawson, the Australian.
took his route from the harbor of Ho-
bart. Tasmania. aboard the little ship
Aurora, and took the land route to the
east OF Ross sea.
These five men and their parties have
now been out of sight OF the world for
many months past, until the first rumor
came yesterday, with the conf1rnRtOry
report that Amundsen had returned and
mad brought word that his leading op-
ponent had reached the coveted goal.
From geographical and scientific
standpoint the discovery Of the south pole,
while a momentous event, has not the
same features of Importance and danger
as relate to the north pole. The quest
for the north pole has been through great
Heids OF open water and floating ice,
whereas the south pole Is situated on land
scores OF navigafors have persisted In the
quest for the north pole, but relatively
few in trying to reach the south pole.
Leading Rivals Close Friends.
The problem has not been one OF reach
ing the pole over floating ice. but of pass
ing rapidly over the snow-covered foot
hills OF the mountain range and terrifying
glaciers.
Tho keenest interest has been excited
by the striving OF explorers Of five diff
ferent nationalities to attain the south
pole Capt Amundsen's arrival at
Hobart. following quickly on the runor
that Capt Scott had been successful. has
increased the suspense, as no details as
TO whether the expeditions have been sue
-cessful or not have hitherto been obtain
able. Capt. Amundsen and Capt. Scott
are close personal friends. They met
Just before they started the race for the
pole and when they parted. each to pur-
sue his own plans. they wished each other
success
Capt. Amundsen. whose expedition wa,
Q smaller one than that Of Capt. Scott
had slight advantage over Capt Scott
owing to his base OF operations beins
about eighty miles nearer to the goal thar
that of his opponent
Their equipment varied in many re
spects, Capt. Amundsen relying on do,
transports and his men being equipped
with skis on which they expected to max,
great speed over the glacier ice, while
Capt. Scott took with him dogs, ponie.
and motor sledges.
Both explorers have great experience
of polar exploration, Capt. Amundscu
being the diseoverers of the northwest
passage and Capt Scott having paSttci,