THE MAROONED EXPLORERS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 206, 9 October 1916, Page 3

THE MAROONED EXPLORERS.

Everyone acquainted with his personal and professional qualities will admit that no better man than Captain Davis could have been found by the authorities to load the expedition which will go south towards the end of the year to rescue the members of the .Shackelton Antarctic Expedition marooned at McMurdo Sound. The captain has a record of effort and achievement which few members of his profession can equal. But the offieual mind in arranging for the despatch of the relief ship seems to have overlooked entirely the claims of Sir Ernest Shackelton to be associated with the venture. There may be some satisfactory explanation which will be made public later on, but but meanwhile Sir Ernest’s friends are at a loss to understand why their hero has been ignored. Capt. Stenhou.se’s friends in Dunedin apparently are harbouring a similar grievance on his account, the captain having been in command of the Aurora when she last went South, and some of them made an indignant protest through the papers this morning. All that can be ascertained about the matter here is that Captain Davis was selected by the Imperial authorities for the work, and that his appointment was warmly approved by the Commonwealth Government. The New Zealand Government is bearing part of the cost of the but the Minister of Marine, while holding the highest opinion of Captain Davis, is in no way responsblc for any real or imaginary slight that may have been cast upon the other, aspirants for the command. ,