8 R. H. CAMBAGE. 



Antarctica, 



During our recess the world has been shocked and grieved 

 beyond measure by learning of the tragic and heroic deaths 

 of no less than seven Antarctic explorers. First came the 

 tidings that the whole of the Polar party had perished after 

 having achieved the distinction of reaching the South Pole. 

 The ill-fated band who added their names to the roll of 

 fame are : — 



Captain R. F. Scott, Leader of the Expedition. 



Dr. Edward A. Wilson, Chief of the Scientific Staff. 



Captain L. E. G. Oates, Inniskilling Dragoons. 



Lieutenant Henry R. Bowers, Royal Indian Marine. 



Petty Officer Edgar Evans. 



Immediately on receiving notification of this overwhelm- 

 ing disaster, I despatched a cable on behalf of the Society, 

 to the President of the Royal Geographical Society of 

 London, expressing profound regret at the loss of the gallant 

 party. We have since all become familiar with the 

 circumstances surrounding the end of this heroic five and 

 their final services to science, and it seems no exaggeration 

 to say that a feeling of veneration for such fortitude, such 

 heroism, and such devotion to duty as they displayed, will 

 live in the hearts of the British race for centuries to come. 



Before we had recovered from the shock of this thrilling 

 event, there came the further tidings of disaster to Dr. 

 Mawson's Australasian Expedition, and we learnt of the 

 sad loss of Lieutenant B. E. S. Ninnis and Dr. Xavier Mertz 

 which occurred under such tragic circumstances. Antici- 

 pating your wishes I sent a wireless message on behalf of 

 this Society to Dr. Mawson, deploring the sad loss of his 

 brave comrades and expressing our sympathy. 



It is impossible to read of the subsequent perilous voyage 

 of portion of Mawson's party, and the shipping of the 

 western party which was under Mr. Frank Wild, without 



