MAWSON EXPEDITION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1690, 5 March 1913, Page 7

MAWSON EXPEDITION.

WIRELESS MESSAGE.

IN MUTILATED CONDITION. PROFESSOR DAVID'S VIEWS. By TeleEra.Dk—Prosa Aisociation-OoDrrizht (Rec. March 4, 9.50 p.m.) Sydney, March 4. Professor David has received a wireless message from 'Dr. Mawson, at headquarter, Adelio Lqnd, via Macquaric Island. Unfortunately, a considerable portion 16 unreadable by the operator. The Macquarie message reads;— Aurora arrived January. Six men, Madigan, Bage, M'Leau, Bickerton, Hodgman, and Jeffries, with mo here at hut—left to prosecute search. Aurora intends to return from west, and is expected in a few days, wlien attempts will be made to get off, but on account of the heavy winds we are -unlikely to get off. Regular wireless communication may be expected in tho future." Professor David is of opinion that the missing portion refers to the deaths of Lieut. 'Ninnis and Dr. Mertz, and that the reference to the "search" means that Dr. Mawson's six companions were left behind in order to continue the search for the bodies. . Professor David presumes from this that the double fatality p-cb-ably occurred a little distance from the winter quarters on. the inland ice; had | it been a boating accident or due to the men getting adrift on an ice-floo it would ; liavo been hopeless leaving anyone.behind : to search for the bodies. Possibly the 1 | \yo were lost on a short sledge journey to 5 bring in an outlying depot or geological specimens.