Antarctic Exploration.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15606, 2 June 1916, Page 6

Antarctic Exploration.

Everyone will learn with great relief of the safe arrival of Sir Ernest Shackleton at the Falkland Islands. It is now permissible to express the feeling which is very widely spread, that the expedition of which he is the leader was quite unnecessary and certainly should not have been undertaken while the Empire was at war. It is true that the preparations were practically complete before tho war broke out, and it is said that Sir Ernest Shackleton asked the King whether he should go on with the expedition or not. If that is true, we think that Sir Ernest Shackleton took a very improper course. He placed his Majesty in a very invidious position by asking him to decide a question which was really one which Sir Ernest should have been able to answer for himself. It is now clear that both the leader of the expedition and his party would have been of far more value to the Empire had they remained to assist in the war; and what makes the matter worse, is that men who can ill be spared must now be sent to tho polar regions to rescue those members of the expedition who have, unfortunately, been unable to get away. ,