PREPARED FOR RIGOURS

Evening Star, Issue 20034, 27 November 1928, Page 5

PREPARED FOR RIGOURS

BOTH MENTALLY 'AND PHYSICALLY DOCTOR'S CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH Hardened physically and _ mentally prepared for all the hardships wlncli the leaders can foresee. .Dr Coman, of the City of,how iorlv, makes that pronouncement on the health of his men, whom ho declares are unusually healthy. “They are men,” ho says, who realise very well that they are not going on a picnic. They are willing to got along with each other and to cheerfully accept any minor details of discomfort. Every single man is fuM of enthusiasm to get on the ice. Soit hands and delicate skins that became sunburned were tho only troubles to need my attention. There are only one or two professional seamen on this ship, and tho boys have proved that the landlubber can make good. And I can tell yon that wo 'have had bettor cats on this ship than tho men have ever had before.

“There will bo perils of ice, of sea, and of air. There will be perils of distance, isolation, and loneliness, but all these are to bo surmounted like Scott surmounted them. Wo believe that there is so little difference between tho Americans and British, who are so closely connected, that we can go ahead and do what Scott did. Jn other words, wo will follow tho example of Scott. Already this day there has been a pilgrimage to Scott’s monument on tho hilltop. Scott’s example really started this expedition, and his memory :.nd his deeds are getting tho men ready to prove anything.” Every man, said Dr Ooman, was straining at his lashings so as to get on tho ice. Tho co-operation was wonderful. On the trip every man had to perform most menial duties, and when the cook or some other man asked another member to do something ho did not take the request offensively as an order, Tho men pulled us one. Tho announcement that Commander Byrd is to travel south by tho City of New York raised not a little stir on tho barque, and Dr Coman said they are delighted that tho commander was to accompany them.