The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-26
FIGHTING A BATTLE
 ATOP THE WORLD
From the San Antonio Express.

From the San Antonio Express.
 Battling with high winds, low temperatures and severe weather conditions, three noun tain climbers have struggled almost to the summit of Mount Everest. Mallory, Wake field and Somerville nearly conquered the loftiest peak, and, whether their feat be re- peated or surpassed, it will remain a land mark in mountaineering.
 Although the lofty mountains bounding In- dia on the north have borne the name Hima- laya ("snow abode'D at least 5000 years, dwellers at their feet feared to approach them closely Like Mount Olympus in Greece and many other peaks above the snowline, Everest and it's towering companions were regarded as too holy for mortal feet to tread The an- cient Hindus had no way to measure the rela- tive height of the numerous peaks that rise above 10000 feet To their eyes there was little difference of summits; in fact, they se- lected the group at the headwaters of the Ganges and it's tributary. the Bhaghirati, as more sacred than Everest and remoter peaks.
 To this day, the various Hindu sects have their temples in central Himalaya foothills; but Everest lies far to the east. Most Himalayan peaks received native names centuries ago; these are genefaly well known and found on all maps of the region But Mount Ever est, on the Pepal and Tibet border, lay in region whose inhabitants professed Buddhism; and Hindu geographers grouped it with the rest as the "Himalaya." They gave the noun tain no special designation and none knew the local Nepalese or Tibetan name.
 In 1923, George Everest, Welshman, hc- came superintendent of India's surveying de-
 i. mountains were mapped accurately and their heights ascertained He retired in 1843 and the Indian government later gave his name to the worlds highest summit, as tribute to his monumental work. Now, century after Ev- crest began his task, another Weshman, Gen. Charles G. Bruce, is directing the attack on the mountain that perpetuates his countr" mans name and face. General Bruce began his Himalayan service in 1890, and spent 20 years there either in military operations and service or studying it's topography. The great war interrupted his India work and he served at the Dardaneles and on other batttlefields. But the Himalayas called to him and he is again at the front this time fighting the ele- ments, instead of men. Bruce himself reached 2T,200 feet on June 14, using oxygen to aid respiration. Captain Finch and a Nepal Ghurka accompanied him, but the summit re- mained unconquered, as Everest reaches 29,- 002 feet above sea level.
 Bruce and his companions will be satisfied only when they reach the highest point A few hundred feet less means defeat to them; and until they find the last wall of rock and snow, about 200 feet high, cannot be climbed, they will persist in their attempts. Mountain climbers, geographers and all who admire brave feats are watching the struggle. Ameri- cans will honor the men who seek to increase knowledge by exploring Everest. Except at few points, it was little known until the Bruce expedition traversed 1t. The next dis patches from India may bring news that the battle has been won and man has stood upon the snowy giants head.