WHO SHOULD BE FIRST?

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 31, 13 March 1914, Page 7

WHO SHOULD BE FIRST?

RIVAL EXPLORERS. I SHACKLETON AND KOENIC*. . "limes" and "Sydney Sun" Services. ■ (Received March 13, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 12. Sir Ernest Shackleton will not reply to Lieutenant Koenig, the Austrian explorer, considering that it would be useless after the full statements which have been published. \ The Austrian Geographical Society supports Lieutenant Koenig's claim to priority over Sir Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition. .. . . [For some time now opinion .has been divided as to whether Sir Ernest Shackleton or his Austrian rival had priority of claim for the next Antarctic expedition. Sir Ernest Shackleton, at one stage of the controversy, said that it was difficult to believe tjiat Lieutenant Koenig could claim priority, as his ( Shackleton's). plans had been made some time before Leiut. Koenig had sub-" mitted his plans to the Austrian Geographical Society. Subsequently, in an apparent attempt to solve a seeming difficulty, it was suggested that the two expeditions should- co-operate, but to this Sir Ernest Shackleton declined to agree. He remarked that there was plenty of room for many expeditions, and the only way in which he could co-operate with Lieutenant Koenig would be in collaboration on the return of- theiv respective expeditions. Personally, he would welcome friendly rivalry in a race to the Antarctic. Replying on the priority of his plans, Lieutenant Koenig contended that Sir Ernest Shackleton was not justified in selecting the same landing-place in the Weddell Sea as that chosen by the Austrian expedition, and emphasised the danger of.Na collision near the depots.]