THE PERILS OF THE POLAR REGIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2730, 27 March 1916, Page 4

THE PERILS OF THE POLAR REGIONS

The news of the Shackleton Expedition which we publish to-day is bad news. An important part of the general plan for the traversing of the Antarctic continent has been dislocated, and the position is one calculated to cause anxiety. Shackleton's • plan was to work from tho Weddell Sea on the one side and from the vicinitv of M'Murdo Sound on the other. These places are shown on the sketch published in our news columns. The journey from point to point is about 1700 miles, and Shackleton's plan was to divide his party into two separate bodies. He himself was to start from the. Weddell Sea, and if successful to finish at M'Murdo Sound, passing the South Pole en- route. Depots were to be established for -400 miles ■ outward from Wecldell Sea to lighten the earlier portion of his journey; and this presumably has been accomplished. The second part of the expedition was to begin its work wher4 the main body, if successful, would end its long journey—that is, at M'Murdo Sound._ It is this second section which journeyed on the steamer Aurora that has already met with misfortune, the extent of which is obscure, but whicli may not only affect the safety of some of its members, but the safety of Shackleton and his immediate associates as well. The M'Murdo Sound party, as a part of its share in the exploring work, was to have established depots which were to have provided food and fuel for Shackleton and his party over the last 300 miles of their long journey from Weddell Sea. We are now told that parties were landed from the Aurora presumably with tho object of carrying out this work, but whether or not it was accomplished we do not yet know. All that is known is that before the tasks of those who went ashore were completed the Aurora was blown a>way from her anchorage during a blizzard, and for the past ten months, until a. few days' ago,, had been drifting helplessly in the pack ice. The immediate effect is that the members of the party who landed In tho vicinity of M'Murdo Sound have been left stranded there. Presumably with tho supplies put ashore, and thbse left by the Scott Expedition, they will be able to get along fairly well. It may reasonably be hoped that such will be the case. Whether or not they will be able to carry out the work of establishing the depots which Shackleton will expect to find as he nears his journey's end is left in doubt. But tha,t every possible effort to so will be made may bo taken for granted. But failing the depots, could Shackleton Hope to carry sufficient food and fuel to see Kim and his party through to the end? It is possible, of course, as is suggested by Sir Douglas Mawson, that Shackleton, meeting with difficulties, may have turned back to his base at the Weddell Sea. If such should prove to be the case, then the greatest cause of anxiety will have been removed. The arrival of the Aurora next week may clear away some of the doubts which at present prevail regarding the position of the explorers, and may present the situation in a- more favourable light than that in which' it is left by today's news.