TO THE SOUTH POLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 812, 15 February 1910, Page 3

TO THE SOUTH POLE.

London, February 12

The steamer Sud, belonging to the Sud steamship Company, of Trieste, Austria, spoke Dr Charcot’s Antarctic steamer Pourquoi Pas in the Straits of Magellan, and supplied her with fresh provisions.

Dr. Charcot refused information regarding his expedition. Dr. Charcot’s expedition (towards which the French Parliament granted a subsidy of ,£23,000) sailed from Havre on 15th August, 1908. London, February 14. Dr. Charcot has arrived at Putna Arenas.

The expedition reached 70 degrees South Longitude, 12 degrees West Latitude. It discovered new laud west of South Alexander I. Laud.

Captain Scott states that Rear Admiral Peary did not start the proposal for an American Antarctic expedition until he received assurance that the British expedition welcomed friendly rivalry.

Captain Scott is arranging for co-operation as regards meteorological and magnetic matters. He considers that the Americans propose taking the longer route, but possibly the easier one as present knowledge suggests that there is a gradual slope from the pole to the Weddell Sea.

The main difficulty will be a suitable wintering spot at Coatsland.

Captain Bartlett, aboard the Roosevelt, starts on September Ist and coals finally at Putna Arenas near the eightieth parallel. The expedition relies on dogs including six which were sent to the North Pole.

Captain Scott has collected ,£32,000 for his ship and outfit and is seeking to raise a further ,£BOOO in Britain for sailors and a further sum in Australia and New Zealand. Already over 7000 applications have been received tor posts in the expedition and they are still pouring in.