MAWSON'S EXPEDITION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 244, 5 March 1913, Page 5

MAWSON'S EXPEDITION.

J A .MIXED MESSAGE. 1 PROFESSOR DAVID'S THEORIES. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Received 4. 0.50 p.m. Sydney, March 4. Professor David lias received a wireless message from Dr. Mawson, from the headquarters at Adelie Land, via the Maequarie Islands. Unfortunately a considerable portion was unreadable by the operator at the Maequarie Islands. The message reads: "Aurora arrived on January 6. The men, Madi gan, Bage, McLean, Bickerton, Ilodgman and Jeffries are with me here at the hut. Left to prosecute search. Aurora intends to return from the west, and is expected in a few days, when attempts will he made to get off, but on account of heavy winds we are unlikely to get off. Regular wireless communication may he expected in future." Professor David is of opinion that the missing portion of the message refers to the deaths of Xinnis and Mertz. and that the reference to a search means that Dr. Mawson and six companions have been left behind in order to continue the search for the bodies. Professor David presumes from this that the double fatality probably occurred a little distance from the winter quarters on the inland ice. Had it been a boating accident. or due to the men getting adrift mi an ice doe. ii would have been hopeless leaving arc ";io behind to search for the bodies. !'o>siliiy the two men were lost on P. i-liort sledge journey to bring in an outlying depot or geological specimens.