New-York tribune., 1912-04-01
Last Report a Year Ago.

The latest news from Captain Scott pre-
vious to yesterdays report, was received
about a year ago when the Terra Nova
reached New Zealand with the statement
that Captain Scott and his landing party
had been left at McMurdo Sound. whittier
.hr ship returned 10 pick up the explorers
on the return dash from the pole. McMurdo
Sound is 10 miles from the South Pole.
After leaving Scott and twenty-five men,
the ship was coasting the ice barriers some
four hundred miles To the eastward OF the
sound, when the crew was treated to
surprise, which, on its announcement
caused no little establishment to the world at
large AS they rounded headland OF Ice
they saw ahead In bend OF broad bay,
known as the Bay Of whales the masts OF
a smaller ship fast to the ice. II proved
10 be the Fran, Nansen's old ship, with
Road Amundsen in command. lie had
with him seven men and sixteen dogs
Amundsen announced that lie, too, intended
10 strike for the pole over the route Sc
Iectod by Scott. The Terra Nova returned
TO McMurdo Sound and informed Scott Of
his rivals purpose.
Captain Scott. i'm speaking % his ar
rangemcntS HhOfuN peloIe ledNiHS bhe-
land on June /, 1910, said:
The problem of reaching the South
Pole from wintering station is one or
transport. The distance to be covered
there and back is about fifteen hundred
miles The time at disposal. in single
season is about one hundred and nifty
travelling DAYS. An average OF ten miles
q day can he easily maintained by men,
provided adequate transport arrangements
are made.
There are three means by which the
traction for heavy sledSe loads can be
provided viz. ponies. dogs and motors,
and zach must be considered not only with
regard to capacity for work. but also with
r.spect to the changes in the nature OF the
track
..Thc motor sledge Ia a new develop
ment. and bids fair 10 become the most
promising means OF polar transport AS
a result of two years experiments, a mo-
tor sledge has been evolved which has
undergone satisfactory trials on the SHOWS
of Norway motor was taken on Mr.
shackIeton's recent expedition, and il is
instructive to note that II was found pos
sible 10 run IL in the lowest temperatures.
Its u. IN n prolonged Journey was pro-
hihited only by the fact that its wheels
were not sufficient TO support II on the
soft snow OF the barrier.
"The plan for the Journey to the South
Pole from King Edward VII Land includes
the use of the three means of sledse trac-
lion described ponies will be taken In suffi-
cionf numbers 10 insure "A thoroughly ade-
ouate amount of food being taken TO the
base of the glacier. dog team with re-
Law of men will transport the loads over
the glacier surface. and a picked party Of
men and dogs Will make the hnai dash
across the inland ice sheet. Motor sledges
will, according to their proved Capacity
he a main agent or useful auxiliary to the
transport plan. II they reach the foot OF
tho glacier there can he little do2bt that
they will ascend it and greatly Simplify
the difficulties OF the further Journey. III
they fail to reach the glacier they VIII AT
least. AS tar as they can be taken releVe
the ponies and dogs of weights ana IN
crease the safety of the return journey.