New-York tribune., 1903-07-22
REsCUING CAPTAIN SCOTT.

The decision of the British Government to
send chartered vessel under its own auspices
to the relief of the Antarctic exploring party
commanded by Captain Scott calls to mind
remarkable utterance of Mr.. Balfour two
months ago. public appeal had just been
made by Sir Clements Markham, president of
the Royal Geographical Society, for money for
similar purpose Referring TO the matter in
Parliament the Prime Minister censured the
two scientific organizations which had been
chiefly instrumental in sending out the DiScov-
cry, and which were responsible for her safety
and that of those board. The government,
although it had contributed literally at the out
set, and had given leave of absence to the naval
lieutenant who put in charge of the ship,
had no part in the management. 1t felt, how
ever, that the security of the officers and men
had not been properly safeguarded and de-
clared that its confidence had been rudely
shaken. That 1t should ask the Admiralty to
conduct the work of rescue instead of making
fresh pecuniary allowance to the joint COM
mittee of which Sir Clements is the leading
spirit is a still more emphatic way of saying the
same thing.
So far as the public could judge Mr. Bal
fOur'S condemnation applied only TO letting the
expedition sail before enough money was sub
scribed to insure its success. Had Captain
Scott been instructed to come back at the end
of two years he would have done so; and there
would have been no complaint. He was en-
couraged to remain twelve months longer, and
the hackers of the enterprise trusted to luck to
provide food and wages for a third years abb
sence. When last February the Morning ap-
preached the Discovery near enough to estab-
lish communication two things were possible:
An immediate return could have been ordered
q n longer AS aiD t'c
own ship was fast in the ice, she could not have
come home then Fresh stores were conveyed
to her by sledges. The relief ship was free
however, and could have brought back to civil
iZatiOn the whole expedition. The authority to
determine which course to adopt was lodged in
the committee representing the Royal Geo
graphical and Royal societies That body
took upon itself the responsibility of imperilIing
the lives of Captain Scott and his companions
when it sanctioned another years stay without
knowing how going to be effected
Nor is its position before the world any hammer
since the discovery that much of the food with
which the expedition was provided at the very
outset was unfit for use.
These circumstances recall another unfort-
innate complication which arose before Captain
Scott left England. When Dr. Gregory was Sc
lected the scientific director of the expedition
he supposed that he had larger powers than the
navigator of the ship. Finding that such was
not the case, he resigned. For Great Britain's
failure to initiate Germany in placing the con-
troll of the work in the hands Of a scientist the
Royal Geographical Society is to blame It is
impossible to say, of course, whether any bet
ter results would have been secured had DR.
Gregory been in charge. He is known to have
been a fine organizer, man of great physical
endurance and courage. and of large attain
ments in those departments of knowledge which
Antarctic exploration was undertaken 70 ex-
tend. Moreover. the enterprise was not mill
tary. but scientific. The uncompromising atti-
tude assumed by Sir Clements Markham at that
time certainly did not commend him strongly
10 favor outside his own circle of friends.
Serious misgivings concerning the fate of the
company left in McMurdo Bay are hardly iusti-
fed as yet It's food supply is expected to last
until January. or the Antarctic midsummer
The newly chartered steam whaler which is go
ing TO its relief may take two months to refit
at Dundee and require nearly two months more
to reach New-Zealand and recoal The Terra
Nova is built for battling with Ice, and will be
reinforced for the service on which she is about
10 enter She will he well manned unduestion
ably. Her success will depend mainly. there
fore. on the condition of the fee pack in Nc
Murdo Bay In the vicinity Of the DISCOVERIES