The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1916. RESCUE OF ELEPHANT ISLANDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1916. RESCUE OF ELEPHANT ISLANDERS.

The annals of Arctic exploration expeditions are replete with deeds of heroism aiul endurance which never fail to cause a thrill of pride in the intrepid men of our race who perform on the fields of ice equal, if not greater, feats of daring than on the field of .battle. The last expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton is no exception to the rule, as the story published in to-day's cables will testify. His expedition met with disaster which prevented the objective being reached, but tliis brave Arctic explorer accomplished what may well be considered as the almost impossible. His ship/ the Endeavor, was crushed in the ice and sank, and for three i. ::hs his party drifted amongst huge crushing and grinding icebergs, encamped on a small tloe, which dwindled down to an area of 100 yards ?f|tiare and then collapsed. They a night and a day on a small I:ia', I'll) feet long, which opened up under their tent and engulfed a man, who was happily rescued. They dragged their ship's boats over ice ridges at the rate of a mile a day, and they rowed TOO miles to a precarious refuge on •Elephant Island. From there Shackleton left with a selected few for South Georgia, there to secure help for the marooned islanders, but eventually made the Falkland Islands, and from 'Port Stanley sent a thrilling story to the world. Then he started for Elephant Island again in a friendly whaler, but was forced to turn back. A second attempt, in an auxiliary schooner, also failed, and by this time public anxiety in England had reached such a stage that the British Government voted a sum for the equipment and dispatch of tlie Discovery to the scene. The Discovery sailed from 'Plymouth on August 10 Meanwhile, Shackleton had been lent the yacht Yelcho by the Chilian Government, and left on August 20 on hi* third attempt to reach the island, this time achieving success, There will be a general feeling of intense gratification that tlie marooned party on Elephant Island have all been rescued, safe and well. What they underwent is graphically related by Captain Wild, and the King's action in sending his congratulations to Sir E. Shackleton on his successful rescue of the party will be warmly applauded throughout the Kmpire It is such magnificent feats as these that disclose the sort of men who have made the British nation what it is to-day—men ready to undergo the greatest hardships with calm fortitude and sublime faith in their leaders, and to look upon suffering and even ileath with complacency. All the same we cannot but rejoice that, in jpite of all their perils, the members of Shackleton's expedition have been rescued from their dangers and will, it is hoped, return home safely to be ready for future calls on their bravery.