THE AURORA

Evening Star, Issue 16237, 5 October 1916, Page 4

THE AURORA

CAPTAIN STUN HO US ITS SUPERCESSION. PROTEST FROM HIS OFFICERS. Uh? following letter was tn-dav forwarded to the Mayor of Dunedin by the offiiers of tho Aurora, now king at’Port Chalmers, and a copy handed to us for publication ;—i To His Worship tho Mayor. Dunedin. Sir,—Wo, the undersigned, as the three remaining officers of the Aurora, should 'ike our appreciation-of the services of Captain Stenhoaso to the expedition and ourselves placed on record, and to earnestly protest against the action taken by tho committee in superseding his command. Such an action by those with an intimate knowledge of the captain’s abilities and sentiments is unexplainable. No strangers could possibly Slave the same feeling in the rescue of their comrades in the south as Captain Stonhouse and ourselves. It is tin’s souse of loyalty, and this sense only, to onr commander and the marooned party that has kept us from taking part 'in the European crisis. It is with groat reluctance that we feel bound to withdraw our services from the relief of our “comrades in distress" and leave it to strangers, should the authorities insist on tho superseding of our present commander. We also take exception to the discourteous manner in which this alteration was conveyed to the captain, whom wo know to bo a worthy leader in danger and difficulty, after !io montlw of hardship in tho Antarctic. We should bo grateful if you would place this in such hands as to receive justice and immediate attention.—Wo are, etc., L. Hooke. Aimiax Dokkelky. L. J. F. Tiiowsox - . S.Y. Aurora, Port Chalmers, sth October, 1916, The Minister of Marino stated at Wellington on Friday that it had been decided that Captain Davis, who accompanied Captain Scott on his last voyage, should take charge of the Aurora when sho leaves to pick up the marooned men in Ross Sea.