SOUTH POLE. .

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 95, 19 October 1910, Page 7

SOUTH POLE. .

CAPTAIN SCOTT IN SYDNEY. AN INTERVIEW. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. SYDNEY, 18th October. Captain Scott, leader of the British Antarctic expedition, states in an interview that his expedition has easily enough food to last it three year,s. The main portion consists of pemmican and specially-made biscuits with a large amount of proteid in them. The party is taking a little alcohol for use in case of sickness. ' They are not rabid teetotallers, but will not take any alcohol on the dash for the Pole. The main object of the expedition is to reach the Pole, but no opportunity of doing good scientific work will b© neglected. Captain Scott stated that he had got together a staff of scientists of great experience, which was also more numerous than that of any previous expedition. The motor-sledgee he was taking were the result of years of experiment and had been brought as near perfection as possible. The stores included 1600 gallons of petrol. THE FINAL DASH. Mr. Marconi had offered to put in a wireless plant on the Terra Nova, and with its aid and everybody's shoulders to the wheel he hoped to cover the last 111 miles to the Pole, which Sir Ernest Shackleton had failed to traverse. Describing the plans for the Polar party, Captain Scott said he hoped, after layiug depots, to make a start in October of next year. The party would consist of sixteen specially chosen from among the hardiest men. 'Ihey would have to travel at given intervals, and four would go back on each occasion, j The fittest would be picked to go on until ! only four remained. These would make the final dash. By this process of elimination he hoped to accomplish his object. NO SUGH THING AS CERTAINTY. There was no such thing in Polar work as certainty, but he wae sure of every- j one going k> work in the right spirit, , with a firm idea of getting to the Pole. Regarding finance, Captain Scott said he thought the Commonwealth would double its subscription. AN OFFICIAL WELCOME. j The Lord Mayor and a representative | gathering welcomed Captain Scott at the Town Hall. Professor David, who was \ geologist in the Shacklcton expedition, declared that he was fully confident that Captain Scott would fulfil his mission. Captain Scott, in replying, asked why they should not keep the whole land lying to the south of Australia for the British race and say we do not want other nationalities to write their names on the lands south of this country. The meeting decided to approach Mr. Hughes, Acting-Prime Minister, with a view to getting the Federal Government to double its grant towards the expediI tion.