New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-23

SECRETIRY CH1NDLERS INQUISIIION.
Secretary Chambers incisive letter to Com
mander Wildes in regard 10 the Iantic's Arctic
cruise deserves hearty commentator. He has
been quick to discern that the failure to open a
winter station in the quarter where Lieutenant
GrceIv will expect to find shelter and succor in
his retreat was discrcditahc TO the Government
In order to ascertain whether any share of the
responsibility for that failure is to be borne by
the Department under his charge, he has made
a critical study Of the official reports and adj
dressed to the commander of the Iantic two
pointed questions. The first relates 10 the ships
parting company from the Proteus and reaching
Littlcton Island twelve days behind her when
the two had been instructed to proceed north
together. This question requires rigid inter
probation of the sailing orders and satisfactory
explanations of any dcviations from them. The
second nGuiry is directed against his Judgment
and discretion in Il critical emergency. He is
asked why ne did not land supplies at Littleton
Island, when he aScertancd that the Protcus
had been crushed in the ice and Lieutenant
Darlington had retrcatcd. This was not con-
tingcncy covered by his instructions, but Sec
retary Chandler has considered il his duty TO
press this matter of official responsibility rs far
as common sense will carry il. The GantiC had
not been ordered to land men or supplies at
Littlcton Island, but only to act as a tender TO
the Protcus. But Commander w ildes knew
that the object of the expedition was to carry
relief to Lieutenant Greedy. Ought he not,
therefore to have done what he could to repair
the neglect caused by the wreck of the Protcus
and Lieutenant Garlington's precipitato re-
treat?
1t is plain that Secretary Chandler is not dis
posed to deal tcnderly with the officer, who was
charged with a. highly responsible duty, but
seeks to hold him accountable for faults of iudg
ment Us well as positive departures from the
sailing orders. In fact, the Secretary seems to
argue like a lawyer in the attempt to discover
whether it is possible to make ont Il case against
his subordinate. The commander of the lantic
returns a spirited defence. He states that the
vessel was not in good condition when she
sailed. that she was forced to remain in Green
land for coal and repairs, and that if she had
sailed from Godhavn with the Protcus she
would not have been able to keep up with her,
and would have arrived at LittlctOn Island with
leaking l<lcrs and very little coal. He refers
contcmptuOu>ly to the "hap-hazard, happy go
lucky fashion in which the PrOtcus was car
ried to the bottom, and contends that it was
necessary for him to be more cautious and pru-
dent His defence on the first count of the in
dictment against him seems 10 lis entirely salts
factory. 1t would have been vastly better for
all cOncrrncd,' as he says, if the Proteus had
been ordered to keep company with the Iantic.
On the second count he has less to say, appar-
emily dceming it unnecessary TO defend his con
duct in making immediate search for the boats
of the Protcus and not waiting to land supplies
for Lieutenant Greedy. Undoubtedly this was
his plain duty The Yantic had been ordered
north as a tender to the PrOtcus, and her com
mander had been instructed 10 render all the
aid in his power to Lieutenant Darlington.
Consequently, when he reached LittletOn Island,
no was under greater obligation TO search for
the boats OF the Protcus and TO rescue the relief
party and crew than he was to add to the store
of provisions which the Neptune had landed Il
year before for Lieutenant Grecly's party.
1t was unfortunate that Commander Wildes
did not order the ships carpenter to erect on
shore n plain structure of boards, which might
have served IA n shelter for Lieutenant Greely's
party. If they reach LitiictOn Island, they will
find the provisions left by the Neptune, and
plenty of NNlrus, fish and game in the spring
What they will need more than anything else,