WHY DID CAPTAIN SCOTT FAIL?

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 556, 5 April 1913, Page 6

WHY DID CAPTAIN SCOTT FAIL?

AMUNDSEN'S STRIKING PREDICTION. At v the very moment Captain Amendsen was telling for the first time in public the story of how he reached the South Pole, Captain Scott was gasping out his last breath in his frozen tent that was to be his tomb. From this point Mr Carlyle Smy the begirs a new and most interesting contribution to the literature of the Polar tragedy in the April issue of "Life," just to hand. Mr Smythe's article is in part an interview with Captain Amundsen, and he shows that, long before any news of the death of Scott and his companions reached the public. Amundsen predicted the tragedy. So certain was he that Scott would never return that he altered certain arrangements in his lecturing tour. The reasons for his forecast are here ail set out with clearness and detail, and the effect of the article is to heighten the reader's admiration for the man who found the South Pole without in any way lessening this respect for the heroes who lost their lives in the fruitless attempt. Incidentally, this remark is given of Amundsen's: "Shackleton would have raached the Pole if he had not forgotten to take a razor." On such apparent trifles do great issues hang. In view of the celebrations just completed at Canberra an article describing in picturesque fashion the district and its historical associations will be read with interest.

"Lady Denman in Australia" is the title of a profusely illustrated sketch of the doings of the popular lady of Government House. "Codfish versus Greek" ia the cryptic titile of what proves to be a remarkably, if funnily philosophic article for business men. It is the first of a series of that order which are to appear in "Life" during the next six months. The illustrations by Mr Chas. Nuttall are in keeping with the text. One of the best series of detective stories "Life" has secured is now running its course. The writer is Arthur B. Reeve, who is a capable writer with a scientific mind, and his Craig Kennedy bids fair to become as celebrated as the famous Sherlock Holmes. In this number Kennedy uses his science to defeat the plot of the best safe-breaker in the country, and the science is mixed with a good deal of hard fighting. These special features in "Life" are supplemented with many fine departments on current affairs, science, syort books, inventions, etc. —a collection of literary attractions that ought to appeal most strongly to every busy man or woman. This issue of "Life" is one of the best We have read of this Very popular sixpenny magazine.