SHACKLETON AND THE KAISER

Evening Star, Issue 17927, 24 March 1922, Page 1

SHACKLETON AND THE KAISER

[From Opr Own Correspondent.]

LONDON, February 2.

The late Sir Ernest Shacklcton used to tell a story against himself which I have not seen recalled, illustrating, as he need to say, one of the few occasions upon which he was “knocked flat.” After one of his expeditions lie was received in audience by the cx-Eraperor of Germany, then in the zenith of his power. The Kaiser graciously -started a conversation on Polar exploration, chiefly with the object, as it appeared to Sir Ernest, of demonstrating Ilia own knowledge on the subject, but it had not gone far before the great Antarctic explorer realised that the monarch’s information had been laboriously gleaned from accounts of Arctic jaumeyings. Tho crisis came wlien the Emperor discussed Polar bears, and Sir Ernest bluntly told him that there were none in the Antarctic. Drawing himself up to the extreme height of his dignity, tho Kaiser haughtily asked: “ Why not?” Sir Ecnest’s reply is not recorded.