THE PRIME MINISTER'S SYMPATHY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1672, 12 February 1913, Page 7

THE PRIME MINISTER'S SYMPATHY.

"I have heard with the keenest regret," the Prime Minister told a reporter last evening, "the news that Captain Scott and several of his brave companions have gone the way of• many others who"have,; at different times, lost their lives in the pursuit of scientific and geographical knowledge. On occasions such (is this one. cannot help thinking of explorers such as Franklin, Hudson, and other kindled spirits, whose names are household words to-day;'.-and whose) memory will ho respected for all time. But whilst we inourn the valuable : lives that have been lost, and'whilst our sincere sympathy goos out to the bereaved, widow .of' Captain Scott, -arid to the widows aid relatives'of the brave, men, who have left their .bciies within-.the. Antarctic-,Circle, tho people of tho .'British "'race cannot help feeling. 'a. .thrill of pride in tho fact that courage, grit, and tenacity of arc still qualities possessed by our fellow countrymen in a degree unsurpassed by tho; wo-, pie'of any other nation, and that there are now, as always, men of British birth who will risk, their .lives for the purpose' of carrying "the flag of Empire to the 11termost ends of,tho earth."'-

IN CHRISTCHURCH. MEMORIAL SERVICE TO BE ItiLD. (By Tolo2rai>h.—Presi Association.) ■'•'.:■ Christchurch, February ii'. Tho news of Captain Scott's fate quickly spread throughout the city this morning, and there'was a continuous stream

of inquiries seeking confirmation cf the' intelligence. Tho, news caused "a profound sensation in the (jity, and.iioups in conversation in tho street spoke of the matter as they, would in referring to some sad and unexpected event which tfld'of the passing of a hero, who it was thought had returned from the Antarctic crowned with success. Flags flew at half-mast-froin numerous buildings in the city today,''and at midday the bell nt ho Cathedral was tolled this afternoon, A. slight alteration was mado'in evensong at

tho Cathedral as a memorial to those lest. On Thursday afternoon a. memorial sor- ! vice will bo held in tho Cathedral. Thursday has been fixed.in.order to allow members of. tho Expedition and officers of the Terra Nova tob .epresent..

While tho. news, of tho, very early return .'of tho Terra Nova from the Antarctic over a month before her due date caused great ustomshnicnt in. Lyttelton, and appeared to indicate that something untoward had, occurred to cause the change in plans, lio one .was prepared tor the dreadful news' which filtereU through to the port this morning, that Captain Scott, tno gallant leader of the Expedition, and his littler band of bravo supporters' had perished in a.terrible blizzard on the lonely stretches of/ice and snow far from their base on their return from the South Pole.. ; ■. ,-■ :'•

'-. The personal effects and other baggage and paraphernalia of some of those who died in. tho South still lie at the Tourist Office, 'Christchurchi wh'ero they were left when tho adventurerswent Sotuh.

' A rumour i was current in town this morning that tho .body of Captain Scott had been .brought ..baok by ; . the' Terra Nova. Mr.-.Kins'ey, when , asked . what facts lay behind the tale, gave it a most complete and emphatic denial.

Information has been received iii Lytteltou that the Terra Nova will arrive off Lyttclton Heads between '9: and 11' o'clock' to-morrow morning. The Lyttclton Harbour Board's tug,'with, Captain Thorpe' (harbourmaster) ■ will go.'ont to meet the ship. - Lieutenant Pcnnell.and Dr. 'Atkinson will also go ('out in the' tug. The Terra-Nova will probably reach Lyttelton about tl;o'clock. ;' •. • '■■--~ '

■; Flags .were,haif-mast'high oh-all public 'niul private .buildings in Lyttelton to-day. 'The merchant .sarvice also paid, its -tribute; to the memory of Cnptain Scott and his party, every ship in port lowering her. flags to half-mast. - - ■' < It is.stated that Dr. Atkinson, who arrived withiiL'ietltu'rian't'iPcrinoll last night, lias felt the loss of hi? chief and his companions so that, ho has been tent, to Mr.,.1. J. Kinspy's house ir. Sumner to.be quiet and free.from any annoy-, aiice; by'inquiries. ;' :.'■ - !.;•' " ■■•'<■ ■ ;.It is understoodth<it. a wireless meS•sage will be sent to Mrs. R.' F. Scott, who is on hnr way from San Francisco, apprising ;Ker'.of the.fate of the southern rtro'.'; and; advising her not "to land in the Dominion.' Mrs. Wilson, who has been staying in the south, reached Christchurch to-day >by the first express. . _ Sir Charles Boweii;; who is keenly interested in Antarctic exploration, and who had many opportunities of meeting Captain Scott on different occasions that he ivas in Christchurch, was seen by n 'Press' 'representative regarding the sad news of the death of the explorer and his party. Sir Charles said that bevond the news giving the fact that Captain Scott and his party had perished in theblizJ™ b6 £? s n °t in possession- of any details. The -news "was very terrible, and he felt keen sorrow that so courageous! an officer had met with so sad fato, and he.felt deepest sympathy, for Mrs. Scott and 'relatives of the brave men who perished., with their leader.' Captain' Scott wag not only -a 'great explorer," said Sir' Charles, "and not only possessed of the courage- of a great explorer,_but.he.also possessed the neccs.sary skill and knowledge, and vos also a' nrst-class navnl man,' and would liavo made his mark iiv whatever circumstances ho was placed. The death of Captain bcott- and his party in such' t.'agic cirpumstances will orcate: a profound solvation throughout the wholo Empire."

At all tho theatres tonight funeral marches were played as a tribute to tho memory of the dead explorers.

BOUND TO SECRECY. _ ■ \ ;l Oamaru, February 11. Captain Ramsay, harbourmaster, who was interviewed yesterday by lieutenant 1 ennell and Dr. Atkinson, expressed surprise when ho heard nows of the lato Captain Scott's party. Coptain liamsav states that tho officers said- nothing as. to tho success or otherwise of tho expedition, or to lead anyone to beliovo no dreadful a calamity had happened. They intimated that, iu pursuance of their mission ashore, they were bi.und to secrecy, and this being tho cose, the harbourmaster made no effort to secure information. Flag 3 have been half-masted as a token of respect to' tho gallant officer and his men. IN AUCKLAND. v . PEOPLE SLOW TO BELIEV... . . _____ ; ! ';.:;, (By Telogranh.-Press AesoclaUon.) Auckland, February 11..'. I\ewß of a national disaster could.hardIy have caused a more profound sensation in tho city than did tho grim, brief message in tho.form of the scanty cablegram from London, which was mado the basis of news extras, which were quickly distributed. The news spread throughout Auckland with rbinarkablo speed, but tho general attitudo towards tho' announcement was that of disbelief. Pe6plo have bocomo used latterly to successes in the -Antarctic, Moreover, the 6ecrecy observed by tho messengers who had landed from the Terra Nova had appeared to bo far more compatible with'good noire held in reserve. But tho first brief mossago remained uncontradicted, and in the afternoon it was confirmed. Publio comment .on tho event was slight;' The fact that Captain Soott had reached the Polo was accepted as small recomponso for the loss of the lives 1 of the men, and hundreds of; people pondered whether, after all, the investigation of the frozen south is worth >thb sacrifice that has been made. Many, flags wore hoisted nt half mast .in the. city shortly, after, the reecipt of the news of the. disaster. .