The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 11, 1912. THE SOUTH POLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 210, 11 March 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 11, 1912. THE SOUTH POLE.

All uncertainty as to whether the South Pole hag been reached is removed by this morning's cables, which show that the prize has fallen to the intrepid Norwegian, Captain Amundsen, "the man to realise great ideals," as Nansen once described him. The account of the trip is a stirring one. With four companions he commenced his great dash on September 8, but the party were forced back by stress of weather. He made another start twelve days later, battled against blizzards, and on December 8 reached Shackleton's "furthest south" point, and six days later, on the 14th December, he unfurled the Norwegian flag at the South Pole. There for three days he took minute ami hourly observations, and then retraced his footsteps without accident. He succeeded in determining the extent and character of the Pioss barrier, that pre- 1

seated such great difficulties to former explorers, and also discovered the connection between South Victoria Land and probably King Edward Land, with their continuation in mighty mountains south-west, stretehing, he thinks, across the continent. Captain Amundsen has unlocked the laßt geographical secret and given the world knowledge of the southern regions which scientists have been hungering for for generations. It is a great achievement, and upon it Captain Amundsen deserves ithe heartiest congratulations of all peoples; and all nations. Naturally one would like to fee> that the prize had fallen to the Britisher, Captain Scott, but it may be that he, too, has reached the Pole, maybe before Captain Amundsen, buf for definite information on this head we will have to await the return of his expedition, which may occur any day now. Captain Amundsen seemed to have sprung a surprise in scientific circles. His original intention, it will be recollected, was to explore the Arctic, but he suddenly changed his plans and decided on making for the South Pole. This change on Captain Amundsen's part caused the question of ethics to be .raided, it being considered improper for him to "jump claim" of Captain Scott. But it appeared subsequently, from a letter Captain Amundsen sent to Dr. JTansen after he had left Norway, that he had always had the idea, in hij mind. The following excerpts show„-bis posftion in the matter:

,' To give up my undertaking never entered'into my head. The question then arose how to raise the necessary funds. Unless something very much out of the common were accomplished, it was not to ba thought of. Something that could rouse the interest of the great public was absolutely necessary. Only .one problem is left within the Polar regions, the solution of which might excite general interest, and that is to reach the South Pole. If able to .achieve this I felt sure that the funds of the North Polar expedition planned by me would be secured. It is hard to confess, but the fact is that ever since September, 1909, it has been my intention to take part in the solution of this problem. I have many a time been on the point of telling you everything, but I always shrank from it, fearing that you might induce me to alter my plan. I often wished that Scott had known of my intention, so that it might not appear as if I wish to steal my Way down jonder without his knowledge, in order to get the start of him; but I have not ventured to risk to make it public in any form, fearing that I might then be prevented. I will, however, do all I can to meet him in the South Polar regions and tell him my plan." After reading his explanation, it is difficult to find fault with his decision. Certainly ithe world will not be disposed to find fault with the results of his enterprise. IJ will, on the contrary, acclaim him as one of the giants of Polar exploration, and as such he will surely go down to posterity. Dr. Nansen evidently knew him perfectly when he ventured the remark that Captain Amundsen was "the man to realise great ideals."