Page "Robert Falcon Scott" Paragraph 23

Scott did not know that he would be in a race until he received Amundsen's telegram in Melbourne, in October 1910.

Before this, he had set about fashioning the expedition according to his own preferences, without the restraints of a joint committee.

So far as transport was concerned, he decided that dogs would be one element in a complex strategy that also involved horses and motor sledges, and much man-hauling.

Scott knew nothing of horses, but felt that as they had seemingly served Shackleton well, he ought to use them.

Dog expert Cecil Meares was going to Siberia to select the dogs, and Scott ordered that, while he was there, he should deal with the purchase of Manchurian ponies.

Meares was not an experienced horse-dealer, and the ponies he chose proved mostly of poor quality, and ill-suited to prolonged Antarctic work.

Meanwhile, Scott spent time in France and Norway, testing motor-sledges, and recruited Bernard Day, from Shackleton's expedition, as his motor expert.