DOMINIONS’ PART

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 98, 20 January 1936, Page 9

DOMINIONS’ PART

Rejoicing at Success

TRIBUTE TO COMMANDER OF DISCOVERY II

(Received January 19, 6.30 p.m.)

Sydney, January 18.

The Minister of Defence, Mr. R. A. Parkhill, said: “It is gratifying to learn that the efforts of the Discovery 11, made possible by the co-operation of the United Kingdom and New Zealand Governments with the Commonwealth, have met with such signal success. Australians will feel some justifiable pride in the distinguished work of the Royal Australian Air Force, carried out with its characteristic efficiency. The master and ship’s company of the Discovery and the members of the R.A.A.F. are to be congratulated ou the happy result of their co-operation in this unfamiliar region, and further details of their activities will be awaited with interest. The people of Australia and the world generally will rejoice with the citizens of America, as they have sympathised with them in these weeks of anxiety, in the news that the intrepid explorer aud his gallant pilot are safe and well.”

A Melbourne message states that the Prime Minister, Mr. J. A. Lyons, has offered congratulations to the commander of the Discovery II and those associated with him.

At Adelaide Sir Douglas Mawson said: “The safe arrival of Mr. Ellsworth and his companion at the Ross Sea after crossing a considerable unknown sector of the Antarctic is grand news. The course selected for the flight conferred on it outstanding geographical merit. I am delighted that Australians have b&en the first to congratulate Mr. Ellsworth. By this Australian effort his success has been made known to the world.”

At Melbourne, Dr. R. E. Priestley, a noted polar explorer, said that the commander of the Discovery II steamed along a meridian which was free of ice and performed a remarkable feat of navigation to get a steel ship from Dunedin to the Bay of Whales in so short a time.