GUARDING- THE SECRET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15224, 11 February 1913, Page 8

GUARDING- THE SECRET.

TWO OF THE PARTY LANDED. NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE. \ : ; [BY TELEGRAPH. — ; ASSOCIATION."] % ' Chbistchttrch, Monday. 1 The ;;two i members lof the pa?ty who landed at Oamavu early this morning were Lieutenant Pehnell (who was on board the Terra Nova when she left Lyttelton for the Antarctic in December) and Dr. Atkinson (who 1 was one of the- surgeons who rewith Captain Scott's party in the South). At lOamavu they joined;the first north-bound express, and ; came to •; Christchurch, arriving here this evening. :It was 1 generally 1; supposed ; that one of . the two men' was Captain , Scott. They, refused to: reveal their identity, and, the news went; out. that the travellers;'were Captain : Scott and one of his officers. 1 At Ashburton they ; : were met ■; by Mr. Hugo Friedlander (chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board),- who had a chat with one of thorn. '" : !

ii! The first express; was slowing-up vat the platform of thelCbristchurch station, when a Press representative saw two young. f men alight and hurry up the platform. 1 One of them turned slightly round, and the pressman recognised■ Lieutenant Penneß.'li-Tbey, were dressed in ordinary clothes, and all they carried was a small bag each.' They were evidently determined not to.' attract I attention. . , By the; time the <-■ other, passen- ! gers were ' stepping off the train - the reporter was chatting to Lieutenant Pehnell, who was hurrying through one of the exits into the street. Sorry, but I can ? t give you a; word," said- the lieutenant; "You know we are bound Ito secrecy,;: and v:we cannot 'tell yon anything. > The only man who .can 1 give- you . any information ;•' is Captain' Scott." ' . . "'< . ■4 The 1 reporter asked ; if. it was Captain Scott who was ■ now walking \ .ahead of Lieutenant Pennell, but the lieutenant explained that he was! so ; bound down; to say nothing 1 that; he could not ■ even answer that question. : ~}\'i- It transpired, however, that Lieutenant was accompanied by- Dr, Atkinson, and that ;Captain Scott is on board the Terra Nova.

; By this time Dr. Atkinson had entered a taxicab. While Lieutenant Pennell ? was not disposed to impart pews,.he patiently stood at ■'■ilie} door of the taxi, but only shook;his' head in reply to each query put by the. pressmen. ■-.„■. Both; men looked .in excellent health, but when asked; as to the health of other members of the; party, Lieutenant Pennell said: "I can't even tell you that; As I said before, Captain Scott is the only one who can tell you the story, and I can tell you this, that Captain Scott has arranged to supply an account of the expedition to the New Zealand papers." ;-■;• Questioned as to the, movements of the Terra Nova, and when and where Captain Scott would land in New Zealand, Lieutenant Pennell'shook his head in a manner which signified that there was no reply Then he smiled,. said goodbye, again expressed his regret at not being able to give any information,-jumped into the taxi, and drove, away. ' :•. ■-. '■■■'; It is understood; however, that the Terra Nova, with Captain Scott on board, sailed from Oamaru to-day for Lyttelton, in which case the vessel should reach her destination late to-morrow night or early next morning. " From the railway station' Lieutenant Pennell and Dr. Atkinson drove to a cafe, and after refreshing themselves they proceeded to the office of Mr. J, J. Kinsey, who is agent for the expedition in New Zealand, When the news of the arrival of the Terra Nova at Oamaru was first received reporters . interviewed Mr. Kinsey. He stated, that he had'heard nothing concerning the vessel's arrival, beyond the news that the papers had received. •'• "You know as much as I do," added Mr. Kinsey. ; Seen after the arrival in Christchurch of Lieutenant Pennell and Dr. Atkinson, Mr. Kinsey again said that there was no information available.

From the information procurable to-day it was found that no news of the expedition would bo available to-night.

EXPEDITION SUCCESSFUL.

ALL IN GOOD.. HEALTH.

[by a'EMOßApn.—own correspondent.]

Christchukcu, Monday.

• Although the strictest secrecy has been observed it is understood that Captain Scott's expedition has 1 been successful, and that all the members have returned in the best of health. Captain Scott is on the Terra Nova, and I am' informed that the vessel is coming to Lyttelton. ;>;