THE SPORTING THING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1386, 12 March 1912, Page 5

THE SPORTING THING.

ENTIRELY NEW ROUTE CHOSEN. UNSURPASSED TRAVELLING SPEED. Sydney, March 11. Professor David, of Sydney University, who was with tbo Shacklcton expedition, considers Captain Amundsen's the most wonderful story ever brought back by nn explorer. The most striking fact is that Amundsen did not use Sir Ernest Sliackleton's old tracks by way of tho Beaidmoro Glacier, but did the sporting tiling, and what was by far the most important in the interests of science—ho struck south from his winter .quarters. Amundsen's party had been, extraordinarily favoured regarding the weather. Captain Amundsen had mentioned that ono man and two dogs fell through (he ice; in tho case of (ho Shackleton expedition almost everyone fell through tho lids of crevasses every day. Evidently the Devil's Glacier was far more favourable than tho Beardmore for sledging. I'rom tho point of view of travelling speed, Amundsen's famous march had seldom been equalled and never surpassed, said the Professor. The discovery that from 88.25 degrees to tho Pole the plateau sloped downwards was, scientifically, extremely interesting. It showed there were no important ranges of mountains such «s would check tho outflow of ice lying midway between Adelieland and the AVeddell Sea.