SHACKLETON EXPEDITION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 93, 25 March 1916, Page 6

SHACKLETON EXPEDITION.

SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON'S REASONINGS. :** [UWITjrt Pb«B>» AMOCJiTION.] (Received 1 p.m.) March 25. Sir Douglas JUawson, iti an interview, points out that it was Shackleton's intention upon leaving South Georgia to reach a wintering station in the Weddell Sea, which Lieutonant Filehner, two years earlier, was supposed to' use "to freeze in the Endurance. Whether he succeeded in this is unknown. The Aurora meanwhile was to proceed to McMurdo Sound and wait for Shackleton until there was danger of freezing in again; then she was to return with or without Shackleton and his party. We do not ..know whether the Aurora ever get there, but there should have been no tTEhculty about it, as navigation was not difficult, it may be that Shackleton, on meeting difficulties in the early stages, returned to Weddell Sea. and it Ts possible he may not reach the Ross Sea side. Asked if, had Shackleton failed to reach the Ross .Sea side, which apparentlv he did not, would there be ground for anxiety as to his safety. Sir Douglas Mawson said he saw # no need for undue alarm. Shackleton and his party might be heard of any dav aboard the Endurance, which was expected at Beunos Ayres shortly. There was a chance, however, that the Endurance would not arrive, as at present she may be frozen up for another year- The four men may have been left ashore to keep a look-out lor Shackleton, or, possibly, they may have been landed for some purpose or other and then it had been found impossible to pick them up. It would be necessary:to.send a relief ship to pick them up. but this could not be done till next year. He considered the message from Buenos Ayres reierred only to the earliest part of the expedition.