RACE FOR THE POLE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 982, 24 November 1910, Page 6

RACE FOR THE POLE.

ANOTHER COMPETITOR STARTS.

THE FRAM. A SECRET EXPEDITION. STATEMENT BY CAPTAIN SCOTT. . ■ (By Ttl'Eraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch November 23. On, October 3 last a brief cablegram from London announced that Captain Eoald.Amundsen, commander of tho FTam, had written from Madeira statins that *the vessel was bound on. a secret 'Antarctic expedition. This was the first mention of any intention on the part of Captain Amundsen, to explore in tho Antarctic. He, had hitherto stated that his object was the scientific examination of: tho North Polar basin, .and with this epd in view ho proposed to spend fiyo years, in the Arctic, drifting over tho basin' as the Fram, with Nansen in command,' did in 1893-96. .Since the receipt of the ...cablegram mpntione'd' above, nothing further has been "heard regarding, the proposals of Captain Amundsen, - nor of the . where- . abouts'of his ship, the Pram.. 'Yesterday afternoon, however, Lieutenant Gran, of the Terra. Nova, received a file of Norwegian newspapers. \ Lieutenant Gran 'had been casually glancing over tho papers, when his attention was arrested by some headlines indicating that' soino important news had been received from Captain .Amundsen, • which: proved .to bo that: he had decided to become ; a com'petitor in tho race for the Soutli Pole, Captain Amundsen's Plans. Lieutenant Gran was seen by .a reporter, and _ stated that the newspaper he had received was one of • the leading Christiania dailies, tho "Verdens Gang" . (ill English "The Way of the World"). Lieu tenant Gran kindly consented to give the reporter'a translation of the 1 article, which. was. headed, "Via the South Pole to the North Pole," and which was ' a copy of a letter■ sent' by. Captain.. Eoald Amundsen to King Haakon, and to the Norwegian Geographical, Society. . Lieutenant Gran explained that' - the Frarn, which had left Christiania .about, the middle of August, had arrived ' at Madeira, on September G,. and had - left again : the same, night. Captain Amundsen, during his brief stay at Madeira, ihad written letters to Christiania an- • nonncing tho change > or'the. enlargement - ■of his plans, which had been • received Iwith much astonishment. 11l tho course of his letters, Captain .iAmundsen said:— "From Madeira the' Fram. goes to the {Antarctic to compete in the race for. tho I South Pole. This' will, as a matter, of . ■ course, 'seeni to many people at the first view to deviate all through from-,my. first plans,' but this.isiiot so. It .is'only pn . . enlargement, of the plan and scope of tho expedition, and not at all an alteration, and it ; is a necessary-enlargement of the plans in order; to get. the wanted money This niy intention is not taken. iii a moment, but .has been well considered for a long time'. When Dr. Coot and .Com■mauder Peary returned bringing the news >that they had been at. the North Pole, I fully understood that ■it would-be quite • impossible for me to get tho money for .my. undertaking. Without: doijbt' the. third Fram. expedition was planned asan expedition of science, and I said myself at the Norwegian Geographical Society's meeting in 1908 that the aim of the' expedition was not a hunting for .records, but' for exploration of the NorthPolar basin, and this; was my hope and meaning that I could get money- enough to realise this plan; but when-1 published my plan the North Pole had not been reached, and the possibility that, thethird Fram expedition,, in spite of its scientific aims, could reach this geographical spot, , which. for centuries has been the object foT competition amongst 'the nations; .would be an incentive to many people, to give financial, as. well as material, assistance; but .by tho news that the North. Pole hitf been'reached, I at once understood that the necessary money could not be got in the'ordinary way. Something bad to. bo done- which would attract the public interest. I had not.very mucTi to choose. When tho North Pole had-been reached only one problem was left which could, awake the -public interest, and that . :was the; South ;Pole; Thus 1- resolved to enlarge the nlan, and -take' part in the siege of tho South Pole. .'I have not. men-, tioned this my- plan before, to anybody becauso; I wished to 6ee how _ matters . stood as time went on, 1 and if it would . be possible to realise ' my _ intention. lAlone I have made this decision, and X alone can be responsible." Cap'tain. Amundsen - then, proceeds, to - elaborate bis amended plans, and goes ; -on to say: ; "From Madeira the Fram will go south, ,bnt to which , place in tho Antartic I x cannot say. Some of. the members of the expediti&n will be landed with dogs, sledges, stores, and equipment, and-then '.' the Fram will go out from the ice again in order ,to survey. tho ocean in: thoso latitudes.' The Fram will first call at Punta Arenas, in the' Strait of Magellan, from which placo the first , news about tile. work, and further plans of-the expedition will' bo, announced. After that tho Fram will -proceed . to Buenos Ayres, where she will probably arrivo in June, 1911, but if the ship should not arrive at Punta Arenas there will be no reason for . anxiety, because I then will have found it necessary- to keep the ship to winter in the Antarctic. 'In February or Marchj. 1912, the world may reckon to hear from us again. We will then continue on to San Francisco, where preparations for the North Pole expedition will be carried out as. previously ar- ' ranged." - Lieutenant Gran explained to tho reporter that Amundsen's. plan, as originally announced,' was to . proceed, from Christiana via Cane Horn and San Francisco to the Behring Straits, and thence -to drift in the Fram over the North Pole, and to come out on the other side of the world .'near Spitzbcrgen, and in that way,: to realise Fritjof ■ Nansen's theory that a constant current is running over tho North Pole in the direction mentioned. • Comments by Captain Scott. The reporter then waited on Captain Scott, and asked his opinion regarding the rival expedition. . "Early in October, when in Melbourne," stated the captain, "I received a telegram from Amundsen, stating that the Fram was going to the Antarctic. _ The. information published this morning does not . add much' that is new. as apparently Amundsen desires t'o keep his plans secret. Judging by the few dates which ,he quotes, .it appears to mo that lie intends going more or less directly south ; from South', America, that is,, either to ; the east or west coast of Graham's Land. There, have b;en rumours that ho was proceeding to M'Mardo Sound, but I-think that that is' highly improbable. It. is more likely that Amundsen considers" the Weddel Sea, east of Graham's. Land, the best point of ■ attack.''' It is known that a ship can get to comparatively high latitude in Weddel. Sea, but no, landing has ever been attempted there, ■ nor lias any place been yet found where a ship may winter. However, it is not unlikely that search may reveal a suitable landing place or wintering station. One: can only conjecture the conditions, but in comparing the prosnects of an attack on the Pole from Weddel and Eoss Seas our present knowledge indicates that a sledge party from the former, would have a longer and smoother journey, whilst our own party from Ross Sea'will have a shorter, though rougher, route to travel. This comparison is based on the "assumption that there is a more or less gradual declivity from the high altitude of tho Pole to the shores of "Weddel Sea. Any attempt to reach the Pole from this quarter cannot but be exceedingly, interesting and instructive. Question of Etiquette. "It has been suggested," added Captain Scott, "that Amundsen's action is ■ a breach of etiquette, in view of our known plans, but that is not at all tho : proper view. There, is no reason whatever why ho should not attempt to-reach (ho Pole from any quarter except that for which wb are known to be bound. ■ Personally, I should welcomo- friendly competition, which could only lead to a better knowledge of tho Antarctic Continent and its physical conditions; but it is, I think,, a matter for regret that Amundsen should have, kept the detajls of Ws / plans ,secret," ' ,-j