Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-20

OF study he had concluded that man
had made no progress, morally, So
cially or intellectually in the Polar
regions in the last 100000 years.
Eskimos Of the far north tribes were
found that are believed to be as old
as that, and while they have no
written language and none of the
habits of civilization in its modern
form, they are as intelligent as those
who dwell in the land of radio, auto
mobiles and plumbing.
This would bear out the theory of
the anthropologist, Commander Mac
MILAN maintained.
So, in seeking a land that has
never been explored the head of the
expedition explained that he be-
Heved the men in his party would
bring back real contributions to sci
ence and that the knowledge they
gained will prove a boon to the hui
mainly Of civilization.
Among the guests at the dinner
were Scott Wilson, Chief Justice of
the supreme judicial court Of Maine:
D. c. Dismukes, commandment of the
Portsmouth Navy Yard; Eva M.
Macmillan, the explorers sister;
Lieutenant Commander Richard f.
Byrd, commanding the naval contin-,
gent of the expedition, and Mrs.
Byrd; Mrs. Letitia M. Fogg, another
sister of Commander Macmillan;
Mrs. Brewster; j. L. Brooks, presi-,
dent OF the eastern states exposition
at Springfield. Mass; the owner of
the hotel; and Mrs. Brooks, Richard
Grosvenor, sponsor of the expedition;
John Oliver La Gorce, vice president
of the society: Miss Lillian w. Fogg,
of Wilmette, Ills, and Kenneth c. M.
Stills. president of Bowdoin College.
The guests at the dinner tonight
paused in their tribute to Macmillan
long enough to pay honor to Major
General A. w. Greedy. the founder of
the National Geographic Society, and
the man who Al years ago carried
the American Flag to what was then
the farthest known point in the north.
General Greedy, who was present,
responded to the tribute with a praise
Of Commander Macmillan and his
party.
Adam was the first explorer, he
said. and began his search for knowl-
edge when he was driven from the
Garden of Eden. THAT, he said,
was the beginning of civilization"
Governor Brewster presented Com
mander Macmillan with a flag Of the
state of Maine, which was the gift Of
the Rotary Clubs of Maine
The question involved would be one
OF settlement of territory on which the
flag was raised, for military, CONNER
cial or other purposes. The Canadian
claims have not come before the WASH
ington government in any official way,
so far as known. and the state depart
ment has been consistently silent on
the question, refusing, in the absence
of a specific case, event to answer hy-
pothetical questions. 1t is also UNDER
stood to have refused to lay down any
general instructions for the naval off,
GERS attached to the Macmillan party
or for the guidance Of Commander
Macmillan himself, although in let
ter to Secretary Wilbur he requested
such information. 1t will be time
enough to take such matters up, in
the official view, when an actual case
Is presented for consideration.
Captain d. c. Dismukes, command
ant of the Portsmouth navy yard,
who represented Secretary of the
Navy Wilbur at the dinner said if
Macmillan found land in the Polar
Sea he hoped he would "dig as big a
hole as the instruments you carry
with you will permit. Plant one of
those Maine pines in 1t, nail the Am
erican flag to the top and we will see
that you keep it there"
Commander Macmillan returned to
Wiscasset after the dinner for few
hours sleep before taking UP the du-
ties of his last day on the mainland
before departure for the north. The
expedition. he said tonight, will leave
at 2 o'clock, standard time.