ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 95, 28 March 1916, Page 5

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

SHACKLETON EXPEDITION, AURORA NEARING NEW ZEALAND. HO ASSISTANCE REQUIRED. Per Press a««• button. Wellington, March 27, Lieutenant Stenhouse has sent a wireless message to the Government stating that he dot's not- want any assistance from a tug to reach port. At 3 a.m. yesterday the Aurora was about 600 miles from the south end of New Zealand, and she was then going north under sail at three or four knots an hour. She would raise steam when 1 350 miles from Cape Saunders, and she should therefore arrive in New Zealand early in April. THE ENDURANCE. THE PARTY AND ITS PLANS. United Press Association. London, March 27. The Daily Chronicle has an interview with Sir Daniel Gooch, who was the last man to farewell Shackleton, and who signed on the Endurance as an able seaman, but returned 1 from South Georgia, when Shackleton decided to keep the Endurance in the ice instead of sending the vessel back. Sir Daniel Gooch controls a military hospital, and could not he absent for sixteen months. He says that on board the Endurance there was the happiest band of brothers and there were the best omens for success. Shackleton’s rare qualities as a leader inspired everybody to devotion and loyalty. He did not believe Shackletou would ever turn hack, and only the biggest, obstacle would prevent him from getting across. Seamen in the hold noticed a boot protruding and milled it. when it was quickly withdrawn and later a stowaway was hauled on deck. Shackleton read the Riot Act' in the sternest tones but with a twinkle of the eye. and realising the lad’s enterprise and ingenuity Shackleton gratified the bnv’s dearest ambition and appointed him cook’s mate. - i

Shackleton, in crossing the Continent, proposed to rely principally on dogs,, regarding motor sledges rather as an experiment. The sixty-nine dogs were in first-lass condition when put on board the Endurance, and # after a month ashore at South Georgia there was a dozen puppies, which were expected in time to assist in light sledge work. Shackleton intended to drop anchors at Filchener’s landing place if it was found suitable; otherwise he would proceed, towards Coats’ Land, seeking a better starting point. He decided he would hot risk the party on hoard the Endurance remaining at the base after February 1. Therefore f news of the'* Endurance is expected daily, possiblv at the Falkland Islands hut more likely at Buenos Aires.

SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON’S VIEWS. Melbourne. March 27. Sir Douglas Mawson explains that Lieut. Stenhouse apparently used magnetic direction when he “wirelessed” that he proceeded east after he left Cape Crozier. for obviously he went west. Sir Douglas considers the men ashore are quite safe as regards food for at least one year, and doubtless they made Scott’s old hut at Cape Evans comfortable, and besides food and clothing, which they would take ashore from the Aurora, there would be old stores left by Scott. They would also find some in Scott’s other hut at Hut Point, fourteen miles away, while at Shackleton’s old station at Cape Royds there should be a fair amount of food, and, in any case, they could get plenty of fish, seal,, and penguin meat. He says that it would be easy for the Aurora to relieve next summer should she leave Australia or New Zealand in the middle of January. Though able to carry on very well till next summer the party, owing to shortage of equipment, would be ’seriously hampered. In co-operation with Shackleton’s main object their programme included a journey to the Beardmore Glacier to lay food depots as for south as possible for picking up Shackleton’s party en route from the Pole. A shortage in these depots ivould seriously affect Shackleton’s party but, of course, there was only a certain chance that Shackleton succeeded in traversing the Pole.

MACQUARRIE ISLAND WIRELESS ITS RELATION TO THE AURORA. (Received 8.30 a.m.) Melbourne, March 23. With reference to the question whether the Macquarrie Island wireless would have helped the Shackleton party, the Commonwealth Meteorologist points out the time it had been in use, and states that the Aurora had passed when the station was dismantled in December last. During the winter, messages were sent almost ! continuously without picking up the Aurora, whose wireless is known to be defective. In summer, wireless carried even worse than in winter, and the Aurora’s equipment was too weak for the Macquarrie service to have been of any use. FOOD CONTENTS OF SCOTT’S HUT. (Received 8.30 a.m.) London, March 27. Cherry Garrard states that Scott s hut contains 349 libs of biscuits, ToO lbs pemmican, 37001bs flour, 1302 lbs oatmeal, 11821bs sugar chocolate, cocoa, U7olbs jam, 22601bs other foods, including lard, margarine, vegetables.