POLAR EXPEDITION

Grey River Argus, 24 November 1910, Page 6

POLAR EXPEDITION

A 'RIVAL IN THE FIELD

SECRET MOVEMENTS

CAPTAIN AMUNDSEN IN THE

FRAM

PROBABLY STRIKING FROM

SOUTH AMERICA

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 23.

On October 3rd last a brief cablegram from London announced thai Capt. Roald Amundsen, commander of the Frarn, had written from Madeira .stating ■that the vessel was bound on a secret Antarctic expedition. This was the first mention of any intention on the part of Capt. Amundsen to explore in 'the Antarctic. , He had hitherto stated that his object was a scientific examination of •the north polar basin, and with -this end in view he proposed to spend five years dn the Arctic regions, drifting over the basin," as the Fram, with Nansen in command, did from 1893 to 189 G. Since the receipt of 'the cablegram mentioned above, nothing further has been heard regarding the proposals of Captain Amundsen, nor of the where abouts of his ship -the Fram. Yesterday afternoon, however, Lieut Grant of the Terra Nova received a file of Norwegian newspapers, in which Captain Amundsen gives his plans, for attack on the Antarctic, as follows :— "From Maderia the Fram will go south, but to which place in the Antarctic I canno-t say. Some of the members of -the expedi tioji will be landed with, dogs, sledges stores and .equipment, and then 'ihe Fram will go out from the ice again, in order to survey the ocean dn those latitudes. \ ' The Fram will first call at Punta Arenas, in the Straits of Magellan, from which place the first news about our work" and further plans of expedition, will be announced. After that the Fram will proceed to Buenos Ayres, where she will probably arrive in June 1911, but if the ship should not arrive at Punta Arenaa, there wilil be' no reason for any anxiety, because I then will have found it. necessary, to keep >the ship to winter in the Antarctic. In ' February of March 1912, the world may reckon to hear from us again. FROM ANTARCTIC TO ARCTIC. - We will then continue on to San Francisco where preparations for the North Pole expedition will be carried out as previously arranged. CAPTAIN SCOTT INTERVIEWED. Capt. Scott to-day made 'the following .^tatemem regarding the rival expedition : — "Early in October when in Melbourne, I received a 'telegram from Amundsen stating that the Fram was going ito the Antarctic. "The information published 'this morning does not add much that is news, as apparently Capt. Amundsen desires to keep his plans secret, judging by the few dates which he quotes. "It appears to me that he intends going more or less directly south from South America, 'that is, either to the east or the west coast of Graham's Land. "There have been rumours that lie was proceeding 'to McMurdo Sound, the objective of our own expedition, but I think that is 'highly improbable. It is more likely that Capt. Amundsen considers the Weddell Sea, east of Graham's Land, the best point of attack. It is known that a -ship can get to. a comparatively high latitude" in Weddell Sea, but no landing has 'ever been attempted there, nor has any place yet found where a ship may winter. However, it is not unlikely that the search may reveal* a suitable landing place or wintering station."