NO RACE WITH THE NORWEGIANS

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13647, 12 February 1913, Page 6

NO RACE WITH THE NORWEGIANS

On April 4th the Christchurch correspondent of the Central News cabled \ the following information to London :— \I have been aivthorised to make public the subjoined interesting extract from j i private letter written by Captain Scott on October 29th—that is to say, practically on the eve of his departure south. ,This letter, which, of course, wa's not written- with a view to publication, indicates very clearly that Captain'\ Scoit ;never had any intention of racing Captain Amundsen to the Pole. Captain Soott says: — : We shall leave for the South wit'i high hopes of accomplishing our object, despite, the reverses pf la.# season, but there is?a: chance $has we may^notjcatch the"'shipV';knd we have .«*•- range for hor return-in 1913. _i~ am fully «liy« to tHo complication m tto; situation Rising oflt of Amundsen s presence'in €he Antarctic, but, as any ii-bteroptrat a race might have been fatal to our chance, of getting to tho Pole at all, I decided long ag^ to do exactly as I should have done hakl Amundsen not been here. If he gets to the Pole he will' be bound to-do it rapdily with:; dogs, "and ono foresees that1 success will justify.him. Any way he is taking a big risk,.and if he gets through he will, have deserved his luck. Meanwhile you may be sure' that we are doing the best'we'can to oafry ■b'uit our plans. .. •/ ■ :;,, -■/; ;.;■•! ■■ ; ■ ' ;'