THE ANTARCTIC HEROES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3784, 20 March 1913, Page 5

THE ANTARCTIC HEROES.

CAPTAIN SCOTT AND HIS BRAVE COMPANIONS. RECORDS OF THEIR ADVENTURES. TO BE PRESENTED TO THE COMMONWEALTH. [UNITED PBEBB ASSOCIATION—COPYEIGHT) MELBOURNE, Mar. 19. The Federal Government has decided to contribute £2OOO to the Scott fund. Commander Evans informed Mr. Fislier that it was the intention of the expedition to present the Commonwealth Government with a complete record of the expedition’s publication. This will include a history of the expedition, largely written in Captain Scott’s own words; folio charts now being constructed; a series of volumes containing the principal scientific results ; and, copies of important photographs. If the financial position permits duplicate copies will be presented to the.principal universities and public libraries of Australia. Commander Evans stated that he had no wish at present to break the silence, but since it had been reported to him that the public of Australia dseired to knew all it could reasonably expect to know concerning the fortunes and vicissitudes of the explorers, he felt impelled to say something which had not yet been published about the work of the expedition. The whole story, when unfolded, would ,prove thrilling and of absorbing interest. Ifc would be handed to the public about Christmas tame. It was very largely in Captain Scott’s own words. His diaries were very complete, and it would be difficult to improve upon - them, but there might be expeditions other than the one led by Captain Scott, accounts of which would prove interesting. The Main Object. Commander Evans added that had Captain Scott been spared to return he would have been delighted with tlie results of the various sledging expeditions. No doubt one of the main objects was to reach the Pole first and to secure to the British nation the honor of a great achievement, but Captain Amundsen's success had in no way disconcerted tlie expedition. Tile specimens brought back by Captain Scott’s party would prove of priceless value to science. Had; Captain Scott and his companions not been so eager to preserve every record and specimen they might have reached One Ton camp. Taking into consideration the climatic conditions it was very doubtful, had the specimens and. records bec-n placed at the depots, that they would have been recovered. In that case the value of Captain Scott’s journey would have been very much diminished. It was hard, to say, if Captain Scott had reached One Ton camp, whether he would have been able to return safely to tlie base. The winter had set in. The temperature was appallingly low; sledge-hauling was dreadfully difficult, and there was darkness for twelve hours daily. They could hardly believe that any of the party which had accomplished what Captain Scott’s did would have reached the base, 55 miles away.

Questioned whether the members of the expedition desired to bring back the bodies, Commander Evans declared that he knew the dependents of those who so gallantly gave their lives in the cause of scientific research were unanimously of opinion that they should remain where they were found. There was never any question among the members of the expedition about this. Those who found the bodies were th o best judges, as they had been constant companions of the southern party. “None of us,” he added, “could conceive a better grave than the heart of the country where we had given our best efforts in the cause we all so earnestly believedi in.”