The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1912-04-01

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IN Captain Robert F. Scott's ves-
Wv sci, Terra Nova, which carried
the British expedition to the
antarctic, has arrived at Akaroa, har-
! Dor in Banks peninsula. New Zealand
but has not brought back Captain Scott
or members of his expedition. The
commander Of the Terra Nova brought
instead the following brief message
from Scott:
I am remaining in the antarctic for
another winter to continue and COM
plete my work
The latest news sent back by Cap
tain Scott to his base at McMurdo
sound showed that on January he
had reached a point $50 miles from the
south pole and still was advancing.
1t was clear that had the explorer
delayed sending back notification of
his progress until he actually reached
the pole word from him could not have
been received by the Terra Nova be-
fore it was compelled to leave, owing
TO the setting in of winter and the
freezing of Ross sea.
Great disappointment was felt when
it became known that the Scott party
had been left behind.
The Terra Nova is expected to reach
LyttIeton Wednesday All on board
are well.
Britons Disappointed
LONDON, March S1.-The long awaited
news of Scotts antarctic expedition
brings the keenest disappointment to
Britons who cherished the hope that the
expedition might after all prove to be
the first in the race for the south pole.
January 1, nearly three weeks after
Amundsen hoisted the Norwegian flag
at the pole, scott still had $50 miles
to cover
According to some Of Scott's friends.
no surprise need be felt at his decisien
TO stay another winter. this having been
his intention. They suggest that he
may have learned of Amundsen's ex-
plot and determined to attempt great
journey across the ice barriers. re-
turning from the side almost opposite
10 that from which he started.
The German explorer. Lieutenant
Fitchner. is operating from that side
and in that case the two parties may
meet.
Ponies Unsatisfactory
In the absence of a fuller dispatch
from Scott, the tendency here is to at
tribute his failure to the employment
of ponies instead of dogs.
81 -
tion that ever started for the south
polar regions. His final 500 mile dash
for the pole began at the beginning
Of october. Besides Scott his party
consisted of I.ieutenants Evans. john
ston and Bowers. C. c. Simpson of the
Indian Survey department and c. H.
Meares. the we'll known traveller
Scott expected to reach the pole be-
fore Christmas Evidently. however
from the slow progress made over
familiar ground-sIower even than
Shackleton's expedition - unexpected
difficulties were encountered.
1t is recalled that press dispatch
from New Zealand last May contained
hints of possible failure This dispatch
Sldbtu tHdl ctOtl Was MAKING pIepdTd-
tions for second attempt in case the
first should be unsuccessful. 1t was
suggested that he had misgivings about
the ponies and had arranged for the
dispatch of trained Indian transport
mules and also Siberian dogs
Amundsen's Honor Conceded
It is now clear, however, that to
Amundsen belongs the honor OF first
reaching the south pole. Last news of
Scott leaves him still 80 miles to go
10 equal Shackletons farthest south
point in January. 1909. and it is un-
likely that any later news will be
heard of him before October. Until
then it viii not be known whether he
pushed on and reached the pole or was
obliged to turn back and return to
winter quarters.
The news arrived too late for press
comment or to gather the views of
scientists and explorers, but there is
no doubt that scotts nonsuccess will
be the subject of the keenest disap-
,,ofr,tr,oert