DEFEAT ADMITTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 142, 17 June 1936, Page 7

DEFEAT ADMITTED

EVEREST CLIMBERS “NOT A SINGLE CHANCE” NEW ROUTE FOUND (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] LONDON, Juno 15. A copyright mesodge irom Mr. Hugh liaitleugc from Camp No. I uu Monday says; “liie cxpcuiLion must > now depart. The deep snow cvcry- ■ where is rendering a lurther tllurl ■ useless, althougih Messrs. iSmyiho aud Wyn Harris have discovered a route winch I am convinced will be of great value ou a future occasion. Unnappiiy it has been made in a season in winca Everest has not given us a single chance, beven climbers ascending t‘*e icefall on fhe west side of the iNortu Col on June Id were prevented from examining tlie upper slope by clouds already men in evidence, ihe monsoon is so severe and the snow bo deep that Everest cannot be climbed this year. Messrs, bmylhe and Wyn Hain* yesterday took advantage of a temporary lull to take a light camp to the point previously attained, ju&i out of reach of the avalanches pouring off the North Col. A rush of air from one nearly blew down their tent during the nignt. “This morning they obtained a clear view of the slopes to the crest, and although the snow was too dangerous to make an ascent they are satisfied that, given safer conuitious, a safer and more direct route coulu be made on this side. Mr. SmithWindham and I, with porters, went half-way up the icefall and formed a similar opinion. ” World Regrets. Sir Percy Cox, • chairman of the Everest Committee, commenting ou the telegram, says that the committee’s regret will be snared by Britons throughout t’he world, as the conquest of Everest has become a national enterprise on which all hearts are set. The expedition’s splendid composition and equipment justified every nope as far as human agencies were concerned, but the early mousoon and heavy snowfall, preventing reoccupation of the North Col, which was originally occupied with unusual ease a week ahead of schedule, produced impossible conditions which no previous expedition had ever suffered. The committee is telegraphing Mr. Ruttledge, sympathising with the lamentable ill-fortune and recognising that no leadership and mountaineering skill could have verted the result, and congratulating members ou their emerging from their critical experiences without casualty.