TO THE SOTJTH POLE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LX, Issue LX, 29 October 1910, Page 7

TO THE SOTJTH POLE.

The principal dash to the Pole will be made from McMurdo Sound. ' The two positions will be separated by 750 miles, making a journey of 1500 miles t6 the Pole and back ■to the winter quarters. The journey must be done in the Antarctic summer, and in a single season there are only 150 travelling days. With the help of ponies, dogs, and motor-sledges, it is believed that there will be no difficulty in averaging ten miles a day. Both Captain Scott and Sir E. Shackleton have gone along a part of the track, the latter reaching a point within 100 miles of the Pole. Its character, therefore, is not unknown. The first part leads over an immense icy plateau, formed by the Great Ice Barrier. It then climbs through wind-swept mountain passes, and in its third phase it traverses a lofty inland plain, 10,000 feet above sea level, upon which it is believed the South Pole is situated. When Captain Scott made his previous dash, he relied largely upon dogs for transport, but they died from poison, and were not as much assistance as he had expected. Shackleton placed his faith in Siberian ponies, and was not disappointed. Both dogs and ponies will be used in the present expedition; but perhaps more reliance will be placed on motorsledges, specially constructed for the purpose. These sledges have been tried in Norway. Their usefulness has been demonstrated beyond all doubt. Instead of ordinary tyres and wheels they have endless chains, which will grasp the ice and snow, and it is hoped that the'^ .will greatly simplify the transport difficulty.