SHACKLETON'S CHANCES.

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 3011, 4 August 1916, Page 1

SHACKLETON'S CHANCES.

CAPTAIN DAVIES' OPINION. NO NEED TO BE TOO PESSIMISTIC. Thero arrived in Wellington yesterday, in command of the Boonah, Captain J. K. Davies, who is well known throughout New Zealand in connection with his Antarctic exploration work. He has paid more than one visit to those icy regions under Shackleton and Mawson.

When Shackleton was consideraby overdue on his present attempt, Captain Davies was appointed to command a ship to go in search of the party. Jnst as arrangements were being completed, Shackleton unexpectedly turned up.

Asked his opinion of the chances of rescuing the marooned party, Captain Dayies said that there were great difficulties owing to tlie time of the year. In winter little can be done in the ice owing to the almost continued darkness, but in summer, when there is a lot of daylight, it is not at all difficult. But, though he had not sufficient knowledge of tliose particular tregians fto say anything very definite, he thought there was no need to be too pessimistic, for Captain Wild was a most experienced man, and, if he had been fortunate enough to catch a number of sea elephants and seals before the winter set in, then there was no doubt that the chances of winning through were not so black, though of course no one could anticipate events in tho Polar regions with any certainty.