SENSATION IN LONDON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8465, 2 June 1916, Page 5

SENSATION IN LONDON.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR RELIEF

LONDON, June 1

Sir Ernest Shacketon's telegram reached London at midnight- It was immediately communicated u> tno King who has shown tho deepest interest in the expedition, and also to L idv Shuekleton and other relatives ol the explorer, who had entertained the gravest fears regarding the safety or. the party, owing to the absence of any tidings of the Endurance. Tho m-w:i «a!v became known to the pul)lic when late editions of the " Daily Chronicle" were sold in the streets. The posters created a sensation amongst the mcv raid women going to work, ana n huge ."lltion was eagerly bought up. Tup ii'li st-ory of Shacklotou's journey in a, 22-foot boat is eagerly awaited. It will also explain the oirounista.nr.os i net'OKpibating the abfuidonment of the trans-poiur journey. | The"news of the safety of Sir Ernest: ShacUleton. and his companions will not I lessen the public deimtnd that every- ( thing possible must be done on behalf of tho. men left en Elephant Island and in tho Ross Sea. Mr Asyuith's reply to Mr Eugene ■Wsisou in ihs House of Commons, wliieh was given before Sir Ernest Shackle ton's telegram reached London, shows that tho Government realises the necessity for immediate action, and is fully urepare-1 to plodge public funds for "bills purpose.

Elephant Island is the most northerly of Urn South Shetland Islands a chain of islands on tho bordnr of the Antarctic regions. lying about 500 miles eolith-oast of Capo Horn, between huAtudo 61 decrees n.nd 63 decrees lOrnin. south and bclwooji longitude

.53 degrees and' G3 degrees west. _ Decoption Island, cue oi! the group, is remarkable an oi! purely volcanic origin. Most of the islands arc rocky and mountainous, and some of their peaks are between 6000 and 7000 feet in height. Covered with snow for tho greater part of the year and growing nothing but lichens, mosses and some scanty grass, tlio South Shetlands aro of interest almost solely as a Haunt of seals, N albatrosses, penguins, and other seabirds. , In 1819 William Smith, of the English brig "Williams, observed the South Shetland" coast. Revisiting it in October, 1819, he landed on King George I. Island, taking possession for England; he, also'gave the whole chain tho'namn it'bears. A smaller group of islands lying 200 miles east of the South Shetlands hears tlio name of South Orkney.

Tho South Shetland?; lie roughly about midway between Cape Horn and the point where 1 Sir Ernest Shackleton ■proposed to eatnWi^h his base on. the shore of tho Wcddell Sea.

From Elephant Island to South Georgia is roughly .''bout 800 miles, from which it is evident that Sir Ernest Shackteton bad a terribly arduous and adventurous boat journey. South Georgia lies about 850 miles south-east of tho ■ Falkland Islands.