ARCTIC EXPLORERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 289, 10 November 1925, Page 7

ARCTIC EXPLORERS

UNAUTHORISED STATEMENTS.

COMMANDER WORSLEY’S DENIAL.

Deceived November 10, 11.15 a.m LONDON, Nov. 9

The Daily Express publishes a letter signed by Commander Worsley and other officers and men of the expedition who are now in the Firth of Forth. In, this it is stated: “All the members are pained and annoyed to see that unauthorised statements regarding the expedition have been published. The facts are that Lieutenant Algarsson in March asked me to command on the island, and offered to place my name with his at the head of the expedition. I declined, feeling that it was only fair that his name should bo at the head, as he had organised everything, and proposed to fly to the Pole himself. Later, when the airship flight was temporarily abandoned, as an experienced ice master and navigator, I was given control with a few reservations by Lieutenant Algarsson. Though this was his original intention, it was carrie dout by tile express wish of all members.”—A. and N.Z. cable.

A cablegram published yesterday stated that a special despatch to the Daily Express from Algarsson expedition written by Mr Mason, the official cinematographer, from Tromso, said that it had been- found necessary to depose Lieutenant Algarsson from the leadership and appoint* Commander Frank Worsley as captain. It was alleged that Algarsson had been acting in a peculiar manner.