THE SOUTH POLE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1407, 6 April 1912, Page 5

THE SOUTH POLE.

SCOTT AND AMUNDSEN. NOTHING UNSPORTSMANLIKE. STATEMENT BY PROFESSOR DAVID, By Telegraph— Vreea Aesociation-CopyrißU Sydney, April i. Professor Dnvid, presiding at Cnplaig Amundsen's lecture, said Iho statement liad been published lliat Amundsen did not give Captain Seolt jiotico that ho would bo a competitor for Iho Pole, but it was clearly understood that ho had Kent a inpssngo from Madeira, which Scott received in Now Zealand, that tho Fram was going to tho Antarctic. There was a fair field; it was Anybody's Pole. Captain Amundsen's doings had boon fair and square and above board. There had been nothing unsportsmanlike; everything between Scott and Amundsen had been conducted in a spirit of high, noble, friendly rivalry. "Captain Scott will now roach the Pole," said Professor David, "and when ho returns his first action, wo may bo sure, will be to send hearty congratulations to tho champion who lias beaten him." ' Professor David eays iJiat Captaip Amundsen's statement lhat there, is I patch of cnlm "GO miles in diameter neni the Pole proves tho theoretical prediction of meteorologists, and indicates that tho wind is blowing straight down instead of horizontally. lie considers Captain Scott's coal discoveries highly important in conjunction with Sir Ernest Shackleton's discovery, and proved that the coalbearing strata-is continuous over an enormous area. Not unlikely, the field will prove to bo Iho largest unworked coalfield in tho world.

WAS THERE A RACE?

CAPTAIN SCOTT SAYS "NO." LETTER RECEIVED. (By Tclcgraph-Pross Association.) Christchurch, April S. Tho representative of the Central Ncw« Agency, now in Christchurcli, in conueclion with tho Antarctic expedition, has supplied tlie "Press" with souio further information given to him by Mr. Kin-

•The latter received a letter from Captain Scott, indicating Hint there was no raco for tho Pole. Writing on October 2S, 1911, on the cvo of his departure for the south, Captain Scott says:—"Wo shall leave in high hopes of accomplishing our object, despite tho reverses of the season, but, as there is a chance that wo may not catch the ship, I have decided to arrange for her return in 1913. lam fully alive to the complications of tho position by Captain Amundsen, but, as any attempt at a race might have been fatal to our chance of getting to the Polo at oil, I decided long ago (o do exactly as 1 should havo dono had Captain Amundsen not been here. If he gels to tho I'olo lie is bound to do it rapidly with dogs, and one foresees that his success will justify him. Anyway, ho is taking a big risk, nnd deserves his luck if he gels through, Meanwhile you may bo sure wo will b« doing the best wo can to carry out mj plans."