THE SOUTH POLE TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1848, 14 February 1913, Page 5

THE SOUTH POLE TRAGEDY.

WORLD-WIDE SORROW. SOME SAD INCIDENTS. Press Assn—By Telegraph—Copyright London, Feb. 12. Mrs Scott received a wireless message on the Aorangi informing her of the trageuy. Rome, Feb 12. Lieut. Bowers' mother learned of the disaster while reading the English telegrams posted in the public library in Rome BR WE OAPT. OATES. London, Feb. 12. The newspapers are giving prominence to the details of bravery in South Africa of Captain Oates, who sacrificed his life in the Antarctic iu order to give his comrades better chances of reaching safety. When his patrol was surrounded the Boer commander demanded his surrender, but Oates replied: "We are here to fight." He was afterwards known as "No Surrender Oates." EXPEDITION DEFICIT. London, Feb. 12. There is £14,000 still owing on cost of the Antarctic expedition. Captain Scott expected to repay this by the proceeds of the book and by a lecture tour. PROF. DAVID'S OPINION. THE END DUE TO SCURVY. Sydney Feb. IS. Professor David, interviewed, said the idea that Captain Scott left the party and himself too reduced in rations is Quite disproved bv the direct statement of Captain Scott's diary, regarding t!if? details of tiie dash to the Pole working out to perfection. That scurvy was the prime cause of the disaster is obvious. , Referring to the shortage of fuel at the depots, Professor David states that Bernard Day, who assisted in laying some of the depots, assures him that a full allowance of oil fuel was left at all the depots, but the allowance which was officially fixed, one gallon for fourteen hours, would only barely suffice for cooking in warm weather. No doubt in the very severe weather encountered by Scott on the great ice barrier in March, this allowance would be somewhat insufficient. AN EXAMPLE FOR CHILDREN. London, Feb. 12. The Evening News, with the support of Sir George Reid and others, has arranged with the authorities for the reading in all the elementary schools in the country at noon on Friday of a simple account of the heroism of Captain Scott and his companions. Messages from Lords Denman and Liverpool, and other Australasian sources, will also be given prominence. A Mansion House fund has been opened to erect a memorial.