SOUTH POLE AND NORTH SEA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1385, 13 April 1915, Page 4

SOUTH POLE AND NORTH SEA.

•THE SIT BIT OF SCOTT AND THE SPIRIT OF OATES.” Out in the heaving North Sen since the. war began there have been men on active sort kv who previously sailed to the Antarctic; they art; mu in one ship, hut. are scattered among dilferent commands. and they form the snhject of an article in .Mr T. B. O’Connor's paper "Great Deeds of the Great War.” It lads to this writer to make known to the public lor the first mile how heroic was the end of Lieutenant Commander H. de P. Bennick, who had previously liocn on hoard the ievra Nova, and whose never-failing good spirits and boyish nature made him loved hy the whole crew.

The story runs thus, says the London correspondent of the Christchurch Press;

"On the outbreak of war l.icuienantConimaiider llenniek was appointed to the cruiser ilogno, and his ship, together with tile Creasy and the Aboukir, was given the difficult work of patrol duty in the -North Sea. _ Stories of Henniok’s cheerfulness during the Owing days of that vigilant watch come from an officer who was attached to the explorer by the firmest ties of iriemlship. The trials of the watch, ihe discomfort of flu- winter conditions were 'inching to hint, for lie laid well learned the lesson taught hy days and nights Jii.il the mercury slips below zero, and ihere is little warmth in the wet sleeping hags. "When the Hogue received her death blow from the stealthy .submarine. Lieutenant Bonnhk was one of those who might have been saved, lie preferred to save others. He was a strong swimmer. ami quite easily made Ins war in the water In one of the many planks that had been cai t up from inc sinking ship. He might have held to that plank until ihe rescue’ ship came up. But Bcniiick’s thoughts were not lor Ills own safety. Struggling in the water near him were many men nimble to swim at, all. to one- ol these the lieutenant promptly swam with his plank, giving the poor fellow hi.s own chance of 'safety. He found other planks, hut on each occasion he refused to avail himself of their support : lie always towed them through the hitter, moaning sea until he reached and sawn some smiimiu struggling in a desperate plight-. • UJS LIFE FOB HIS .MEN.

••Four times In- accomplish'd this heroic act ol sell-sacrifice, G... itndoi the ofress of ihe srii ami the .md ami hif; own great. eflorts. Ins si tong Game weakened. anil while. swimming to yet another Inutile ol timber his strength jailed him. and he sank, going t,o lii.s death as his friend and comrade. Captain Oates, had cone, heroically, .simply, and uncomplainingly. “Renniek’s last emu act has never been properly honoured. It is known to hut a lew, I'or in rim confusion of that, disaster there were not many sailors who lived to tell ol ins devotion. It is only from an officer's lips rind the story Ims been told. Hut it is a >-tory magnificent in its spirit; it is well for ns to know of this man who could live sy staunchly ami diy so superbly.' Paymaster Drake is mi hoard the lighting ship Undaunted. which has lead several narrow escapes, and was very nearly destroyed by torpedoes while engaged in the destruction of enemy vessels. • tDMMANHER E VANS—THE MAN 1" Commander Evans, who has been doin o able work with the i lest rover flotillas, which are guarding our eastern shores, is classed as a man of “the inn* sea-type.'’ His face is that of a fighting man. Irmn the thin, keen lorohead to the swelling strength of- the great and resolute jaw. It is the lace ol a man- tenacious and obdurate in the lace of all diiheultl<-s. It is not, however, the face of a rutldes« or ugly nature. Beneath the great, sri'ength ol purpose' is the great strength oi humanity ami .•.empathy. In relaxation he can he the most hoyi'h of men and the most sterling ami companionable ol comrades. Mis charity is as large as Jnniscdl. and lie i.- alwavs doing kindly actions.

“Juki l an inspiration, the spirit of Scott hangs over the North Sea, i-mil-ittg an encouragement and a benediction over our wailing and watching ships, ami like a cross above the Ireneltes hangs the vision ol that lone cairn which memo rise,-: a gallant gentleman's undying aei. '1 ho spirit ol Scot t and the spirit oi Dates are the spirit of the two .mi vax-s; iron i ihoir ((tliet. Their n m omplain ing. their noble and their lonely deaths, tin. spirit which is el our race revives noon the waters. Scott and his valiant e.nnpanv still drive ot|r long ships forward against ottr toe along the smoking