EXPLORERS OF THE ARCTIC

Evening Star, Issue 19792, 16 February 1928, Page 10

EXPLORERS OF THE ARCTIC

CAPTAIN SCOTT'S PLANS BRITISH AND NORWEGIAN EXPEDITIONS Mr Herbert G. Pouting, who was photographer to Captain Scott’s last Antarctic expedition, writes to the London ‘ Times ’; — As Captain Roald Amundsen lias, in his latest book, protested that “the British are a race of very bad losers," it may be opportune to recall the actual circumstances under which Amundsenwent south in 1910. The Norwegian expedition was organised for, and left Norway with the published intention of, reaching the North Pole, it was not until some weeks after the British Antarctic expedition had left these shores, and all Captain Scott’s plans were known to the world, that news was received from Funchal, Maderia, that Amundsen had changed his plans, and was bound south. When Scott learnt this, at Cape Town, he thought that the Norwegians would endeavor to reach the South Pole from the Weddell Sea coast —the opposite side of the great Antarctic continent to that for which he was himself heading, and which he had made his base during his previous 1901-4 expedition. Ho did not for one momeinent think that Amundsen would come into his own region of operations. It was not until some weeks after the British expedition had landedn on Boss Island that Scott’s “Eastern Party,’ when about to carry out the expedition’s published plans, landed on the Great ice Barrier, at the Bay of Whales—after unsuccessfully to effect a landing at King Edward Vi). Land—and found lhat the Norwegian expedition had already landed there, and had established winter quarters. As obviously two rival expeditions could not operate from the same base at the same time, the Eastern party, after exchanging greetings with the Norwegians, proceeded to Cape Adare, iii Smith Victoria Land, where they wintered.

When Captain Scott heard of the Norwegian's presence so close to his own base he did not expedite his plans. Ou tile contrary, owing to disaster having overtaken some of his dogs and ponies during the early stages of the adventure, he was under the necessity of retarding them. It was Scott’s original intention to have left his base for the bole on October 1, 1911; but the loss of nearly one-third of his transport animals made him decide to take no chances of further loss irdm too cold weather. He, therefore, postponed starting for the Pole until November 1. It was that month ot necessary delay which perhaps meant the loss of priority at the Pole. Hut Scott was too keen a man of science to jeopardise any of the objects of his undertaking by racing, though lie knew he had a rival in the field. The British Antarctic expedition of 1910-13 was one of the most important scientific enterprises ever sent out from any land. Captain Scott’s staff included the most eminent polar zoologists of his day, a well-known meteorologist, a physiographer, two geologists, two biologists, a physicist, and a parasitologist. Also a complete record was made of the operations ot the expedition by means of the camera and the cinematograph. From the time of Captain James Cook, who, in January, 1773, was the first navigator to cross the Antarctic Circle, the British have ever been pioneers in pushing Inrthcr and still farther south. Sir James Boss discovered the Great Ice Barrier and the volcanoes Terror and Erebus, in 77deg S., in 1841. Sixty years later Captain Scott penetrated more than 300 miles deeper into the unknown during iiis first expedition, 1901-4, reaching B‘Jdeg 16m in S. Professor Sir Edgeworth David discovered the South Magnetic Pole, and Sir Ernest Shackleton got to within 100 miles of the actual South Pole—SSdeg 23min S.—in 1909, Each of those great explorers added enormously to knowledge of the Antarctic regions, and their expeditions were all great scientific undertakings. As Captain Amundsen’s expedition was not concerned with science beyond meteorological and gravity observations the Norwegian’s twelfth-hour change of plans can only be regarded as having been inspired by the desire to deprive the British of the glory of crowning their long and valuable work in the south. When Captain Scott reached the goal of his hopes on January 18, 1912, he found that Amundsen had preceded him, and had left a, little tent at the Pole. On that fateful day Scott wrote in his journal:— “The tent is fine, a small, compact affair. . . . We find a record of five Norwegians having been here, as followsßoald Amundsen, Olav Olavson Bjaaland, Hilmer Hanssen, Sverre H. Hassel, and Oscar Wisting. December 16, 1911. ... A note from Amundsen which I kept, asks me to forward a letter to King Haakon. . There is*no doubt that our predecessors have made thoroughly sure of their mark, and fully carried out their programme. . . May we not all point with pride to the fact that at the hour when Scott saw the blasting of his life’s ambition he was full of admiration for his rival’s

fine and successful work? That is the true British spirit—in adventure, in sport, and in everything else. When wo are fairly beaten we warmly grasp the hand of our successful rival. And never was this spirit more chivalrously exemplified than when Scott wrote those gallant lines amidst the Antarctic snow. Scott added:—“lt is a terrible disappointment, and I am very sorry tor my loyal companions.” May we not also point out with equal pride that in That tragic hour it was for his comrades that the lender felt, not tor himself and the death of his own hopes ?