MAWSON’S EXPEDITION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 61, 17 March 1913, Page 5

MAWSON’S EXPEDITION.

WHY THE AURORA LEFT

Hobart, March 16

Mr Eitel’s narrative states that while the Aurora, after her arrival at tin main base on January 13th, anchored on the lee pf an ice cliff, a strong gale arose. The windlass having been negligently left open, the heaviest cable glided into the water, not having been made fast, leaving them dependent on a much lighter cable. Bickerton, Whetter and Hodgeman were instructed to proceed by motor sledge as far as possible, and return along the west coast. The motor, towing two ordinary sledges,, flew up a 17 degree slope at the rear of the camp at nearly forty miles an hour. The engine became incapacitated thirteen miles out, and they continued the journey afoot, covering over thirteen hundred miles. Thep returned on January 18th. Subsequently they retrieved the motor.

“Wo had hoped,” he eaid, “thai the Aurora would bo able fo proceed on January 20th to relieve Wild” party, who were located on the ice barrier, 1600 miles westward by a sea route, though oidy 1133 miles as the crow flies, as ic was feared that the ice barrier might become detached from the land ice. Our anxiety to rescue them before the sea was frozen ovei may be imagined. The fact that Dr. Mawson was recalling the ship when he and the shore party were in complete safety, thus endangering the lives of those on the ship and at AVild’s base will probably be criticised, but Dr. Mawson was such a thorough leader that we were confident he would provide a satisfactory explanation. There was nothing in the nature of a sudden panic about the decision to desert Dr. Mawson. The only reason was that we believed Wild’s party would perish. There was every reason to believe that the brief season of summer calms was over for another year. On the night of February 9th, one day after the Aurora’s second departure, Dr. Mawson attempted tc communicate by wireless. All that could bo deciphered was the Avoids: ‘Please wait, cable Ninnis, Mertz,’ and the word ‘crevasse’ repeated several times. We understood this to mean that before complying with the news contracts Ave should cable to the relatives of Ninnis and Mertz, stating that they had been killed in a crevasse. This is another instance of Dr. Maivson’s thoughtfulness. Wild’s parti accomplished 1524 miles of sledge journeys, not counting relay Avork. They formally took possession for Britain of the Avhole area from Kaiser Wilhelm Land to longitude 101-30 east, longitude 67.30 south. This has been named King George V. Land.” Captain John King Davis, mastci of the Aurora, gives the folioAving five reasons for leaving Dr. MaAvson’s party : —The main base Avas in perfect safety, being fully equipped in every Avay for a second Avinter; the cdiorl summer in Adelie Land Avas evidently over; further detention of the vessel would have seriously endangered the chance of relieving Wild, avJio ivas 1500 miles distant, navigation being extremely difficult on account of the constant snoAv storms and the groAving darkness; the only other vessel penetrating the south in this region Avas frozen in on February 22ud; the Aurora Avas not provisioned for a Avinter among the ice, because they had landed most of their spare stores for the relief party at the main base. “As a seaman,” he added, “knowing the difficulties Ave encountered in getting to and from the second base the previous year, I felt that nothing Avould exonerate me if 1 further delayed my departure. Being unable to communicate Avith Dr MaAvson, it ivas clearly my duty to act as I Avas convinced he Avould Avish mo to act Avere I able to inform him of the situation of the western party.”

BRILLIANT SCIENTIFIC RESULTS

CAPTAIN DAVIS UPHELD

(Received 9.55 a.m.) Sydney, March 17

Professor David states that from a scientific viewpoint the results of Dr. Mawson’s expedition are brilliant, and exceeded the most sanguine expectations. He adds that in the opinion of Commander Evans as well as Priestly and himself, Captain Davis did absolutely the right tiling in deciding to hasten to the rescue of Wild. Nobody can attach the least blame for his second decision to proceed straight from Wiki’s base to Australia. No doubt Dr. Mawson would be among the first to commend Davis’ action.

Commenting on the results, Professor David says: “Probably no Polar expedition lias a finer sledging record for the time than Dr. Mawson’s main party and Wild’s party.”

The sledging figures for the main base party was 2810 miles and for Wild’s 1615; a total of 4425 miles.