New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-18
FOR GREELY'S RELIEF.
SPEEDY ACTION URGED UPON CONGRESS-

RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE SECRETARIES OF TIE
ARMY AND NAVY.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE President transmitted
10 Congress to-day a communication from tne
Secretary of War and the Secretary OF the Navy
settinC forth the necessity for another expedition 10
Smiths Sound for the relief of the Signal Service
marty under Lieutenant Greedy; and special mes
sage recommending that an appropriation Tor thaI
nurpose be at once made Secretaries Lincoln anu
Chandler in their letter TO the President say: Inc
Roard of OIicers of the Army and Navy, convened
nv the President December II, 1888. to consider
a Greedy relief expedition is of the opinion that
tbe control Of the expedition should be committed
40 the Navy department and that il is indspens-
able that il should be on the ground at the earliest
p,ssible time .There is TO record of vessel having
nassed Cape York. the northern-most point of Mel
Vile Bay before June /, and therefore, the eXpe-
dition should arrive at Upernayik, the most
northern Danish settlement in Greenland. not later
than MAY 20, and should be fitted and In complete
readiness to leave New-York not later than May l.,
The Board recommends the immediate purchase OF
two full-powered steam whaers OF steam sealers
of from 500 to 900 tons displacement, and that
these vessels should he thoroughly equipped with
boats and sleds. We have the honor TO commuui-
cate these recommendations to you. with our con-
curTence in them, and have further to express the
opinion that il may also be deemed wise TO dispatch
smaller and less cOmplete-equipped vessel as an
risks in early spring navigation than would De con-
sidered justfabe in the of the two steam seal
ers upon which the ultimate success OF the expedl"
ton may depend. We recommend that Congress De
requested authorize the President TO prepare ana
dispatch an expedition TO the coast Of Greenland,
Smiths Sound, or Lady Franklin Bay, for the
purpose of relieving and bringing home Lieutenant
A. w. Greefv and party, and that an appropriation
be made for manning, equipping and supplying the
necessary vessels"
In his message of transmittal the President
saws: I'm the plans for the relief OF TINS
party as arranged with Lieutenant freely, III
was contemplated that an effort wonld he made 10
communicate with him and furnish him any needed
assistance in 1852 and again in lsS3. subsequent
" legislation was enacted which required tne e1-
peditiOn of 1883 TO bring the party home III was
part of the arrangement that II communication
Should not be made with him on or before SepUeh-
Der l. 1888, he should, with his party, abandon the
station at Lady Franklin Bay not later than the
aforementioned date aud proceed southwark
station at the entrance to Smiths Sound a point
where il would not be difficult TO reach him during
a part of each year. The expeditions OF 1882 and
1888 were sent but neither of them was able 10
communicate with Lieutenant Greedy, and the last
one failed to accomplish part OF Its object Pc
yond leaving very small quantity OF stores IN tne
nelghbOrhOOd of the entrance OF Smiths SOUND
The situation of Lieutenant Greedy and his party
under these circumstances is one OF great peril ana
In presenting the preliminary views OF the Board
appointed BY me to take into consideration an ex-
petition for their relief l urgently recommend
prompt action by Congress TO enable the recommen-
atons of the Secretary of War aud Secretary OF the
Navy 20 be carried out without delay"