THE SHACKLETON EXPEDITION.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15766, 6 December 1916, Page 6

THE SHACKLETON EXPEDITION.

DIFFICULTIES LIKELY TO B1 SETTLED.

(•FECIAL TO "THK PRESS.") WELLINGTON, December 5. Tho difficulties which threatened *re garding tho expedition to bring olf Shackleton'e ltoss Sea party arc likely to be satisfactorily scttleu. Captain Davis, who has been appointed to tho command of the Aurora, was in Wellington during the week-end, and left on Monday night for the South, with some members of his crew. He announced that ho would probably not be back in Wellington before sailing) which may be taken to mean that he has completed his part of the negotiations. The New Zealand Government is now awaiting replies to cable messages sent to the Australian and British Governments, who arc partners ® the relief enterprise, before agreeing finally to the termp proposed. The present proposal is that Captain Davis shall retain command of tno Aurora, and that Sir Ernest Shackleton will go south with him to t#k# command of shore operations thert* The business of the Ross Sc-a party was to go out to meet Siiaekleton, and & far as they can know, Shpckleton now walking across the Antarctic c®®* tincnt. I: all is well with Mackintosh and his men. thev will probably »• out to pick un Shacldeton as far from their base as it. i«i- snl't fnr them to go. If things arc not well with tbo party, the relief expedition will h aT ® to look for evid"nee "f what has h»p----pene-J to them. It i> |>os/sible t thercfore, that the s'nore operations may |>® an important part of the work of the expedition. There are details connected with. tenns of settlement which cannot b® discussed until agreement upon them is confirmed by advice from the British and Australian Governments.