King George V. Land.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1913, Page 5

King George V. Land.

TWO FATA LIT! ES REPORTED. MEAGRE NEWS. Ry Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) Sydney. Eehrunry 25. .Professor David has receiv ’d a wireless message, stating that two of Dr. Mawsnn’.s party, Lieutenant Ninnis and Dr. Mertz, are dead. Tliere are no details. Last night Professor David received a message from Macquarie Island stating that the Adclie Land wireless plant is again working and adding that Dr. Maw son and several men had missed the Aurora owing to unfortunate circumstances The operator was then trying to receive a long message from Dr. Mawson, hut the conditions were very had The message at this point became broken.

This afternoon Professor David received the following additional wireless message:—Ninths and Alert;', are both dead. All the others arc well. Dr. Mawson and six others will probably winter in Adelio Land.” Professor David says that it is difficult to reconcile the message just received with earlier wireless reports, which stated that the Adc'ie Land wireless plant had been dismantled, ard that Dr. Mawson and all hands bad left on the Aurora for Wild’s base. Wild was in charge of tin second portion of Dr. Mawson’s ex pedition, consisting of about eigli men who wintered at Tcrminatioi Glacier, some twelve hundred niih-w west of Afawson’s headquarters a'. Adelie Land. Professor David think: that possibly a fatal accident hap pencil during the progress of embarkation, as, for instance, the springing up of a blizzard, hut it is idle tr -peculate. He describes Lieu ten-nP Ninnis as a fine, fearless British mill tary officer, much of the same type as the heroic Captain Oates. Dr Mertz was a medical man aT well as i scientist of high attainments. Both acre of fine physique, and were looked upon as very valuable members ol he expedition.

A MESSAGE FROM MAWS ON

NEW LAND, IMPORTANT DATA

THE KING’S SYMPATHY

(.Received 9.23 a.m.) Melbourne, February 20

Lord Denman lias received a wire less from Maw.son at Common wealtl Bay, the winter quarters of the ex pedition, via the Macquaries and Ho hart:

“The sledging season was successfu in opening up a large area of new lan oast and west of Commonwealth Bay and in obtaining important data a a number of stations in close proxim ifcy to the) magnetic Pole. “Probably six of tho staff and my self will be unavoidably detained hero for another year. “I’nfortunately Lieutenant Xinnb nd Dr. Hertz both lost their lives. Ail the others are alive ana well Please communicate the following t< King George: ‘As leader of the Aus tralasian Antarctic Expedition, I tak the opportunity of the first regnlai wireless between our main Antarctic base and other portions of your Ala jesty’s Dominions to request permission to name the large area of new i.y-discovered land King George V Land, which lies between Victoria Land and Adolio Land. Our most willing efforts were concentrated upon it..’ ”

Lord Denman despatched the mes sage to the King, who replied tr Mawson deploring the calamity. MESSAGE FROM PROFESSOR DAVID. (Received 10.10 a.m.) Sydney, February 20. Professor David says: “So apprehension need he felt for Mawson’s party while, wintering, since they have an excellent hut, and polar expeditions of this kind always land one year’s more food than they are like ly to require in order to provide for contingencies. “The word ‘probably’ in the mes sage implies that there is still a good chance of the Aurora being able to bring the Mawson party off on the return of the voyage from Wild's base. Anyway, the return of the Aurora to Australia will probably bo a little later than anticipated, as she may be delayed in attempting to reach the land again at Mawson’s wintei quarters.” Professor David adds that it had not been possible to obtain any news of Wild’s party. Wild was a very able leader, and Shankleton’s righthand man during his Dash, to the Pole. Wild’s party totals eight; Mawson’s, including the late Xinnis and Hertz, eighteen; while live others remained at the Macquarries.