New-York tribune., 1884-01-04
c1PrlLN rISONlS PLAN

The Joint military and naval board appointed
TO devise scheme for the relief OF the GTecly
Colony is receiving many practical suggestions.
The most sensible plan is that outlined by
Captain Tyson, the companion of Captain Hall.
He recommends the selection of a small steamer
which can reach Cape York and LittletOn Island
early in July. If Grccly be not found at either
place. the steamer will then cross Smith Sound
and push on to the edge of the ice. Two whale
boats, each manned by six men, viii be drawn
across the ice barrier to the /" land water"
through which they can make their way to Lady
Franklin Sound. Captain Tyson is confident
that the voyage in the open boats from Cape
Isabella or Cape Sabine to the signal station at
Discovery HaTbor can be made III twelve or tif-
teen days. The return of the boats may be
expected in twenty-five or thirty days. Cap
tain Tyson sees no reason for sending naval
tender with the relief ship, which he thinks will
be safe so long as it does not enter the Ice in
Smith Sound. In this respect his judgment Is
probably at fault A vessel cannot reach
LittletOn Island by the first week of July with
out running through a sea filed with icebergs
and foes. Melville Bay is always a terror TO
Arctic navigatOrs, and fIom Cape York to
LittlctOn Island the coast is dangerous. There
ought to be two ships, 50 that if one OF them be
disabled or wrecked, the other will be available
for the purposes OF the expedition. 1t is not
desirable, however, to have the second ship a
naval vessel like the Yantic.
With the single exception noted Captain
Tyson's plan seems to us to meet the require
ments of navigation in the upper waters Of
Smith Sound and the urgent necessities of the
case. If the cololists are not found at Littlcton
Island or Cape York, there will be no time to
spare. The chance of break i'll the ice barrier
obstructing Smith Sound is not one for which
the relief expedition can afford to wait. If the
whae-b boats are sent forward by the middle Of
July, the men at Fort Conger can be rescued and
brought back to Cape Sabine by the middle Of
August whether the ice breaks up or not. The
superiority of whale boats for Opcnboat nayl-
CATION in Arctic waters cannot be questioned.
Ii is also an easy matter to convert them into
slcdges by the use of cradles with runners,
which can ordinarily be towed behind. The
experience of all explorers in that quarter war
rants the belief that while sledging is most
alduOus and hazardous undertaking in the
spring and autumn, Smith Sound beyond the
ice barrier. and Kennedy Channel and Hall
Basin are frequently navigable during portions
of July aud August. The chances are largely in
favor of open water on the west shore aDoye
Cape Hawks, and in any emergencies tha. nay
arise the open boats can be drawn Oh runnc.s.
The plan is an admirable one and scn-
courages us to believe that an intelligent
effort will be made to rescue Grccly. The ex-
ccution of this or any other scheme that may
be devised ought to devolve exclusively upon
naval officers. 1t is neither necessary nor ex-
pedient that army officers should take part III
this expedition. 1t is natural for Lieutenant
Darlington to desire to retrieve his reputation,
and for army officials to take an active interest
in measures for the relief of tho Arctic military
Harrison. But this is Enthusiastically sailors