The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 5

THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN. FRIDAT. JUNE 2. 1916. THE STORY OF SHACKLETON'S GREAT BOMBARDMENT AT EXPEDITION.

BLOCKADE EFFECTS IN GERMANY, FIVE MONTHS OF HARDSHIP ON THE DRIFTING ICE. A DESPERATE VENTURE IN A SMALL BOAT. THE STRANDED PARTY'S PERILOUS SHORTAGE OF FOOD. land anri "ajPtutle. The nearest miles distant i wu was islami te reorganised our equip- mucui.

All our scientific recoras and film fcograpns were saved. A Mile a Day Over the Ice. On October 30 we relaying towards north, seven dog teams relaying the provision sledges and the men hauling the boats half-mile relays. Our advance was one mile in a day. New cracks and high presaure ridges impeded our progress, and the crossing open cracks was frtw the present nf wii 1 1 on a snlalt beach in viow of the eon" wouldiditi' of the party, which had now been attate to attack any man unfortunate without water or hot food for two davs.

All enough to fall in. i tho equipment was sodden. On landing we Through the courtesy ol the 51 Chronicle we are enabled to print to-day Sir Ernest Shackleton's detailed account of his perilous w. culminaiea in tmo wj ui wo bhuiumuw, iisding ol tne wnoie expedition alter severs privations on Elephant Island, and the daring ind saccessful voyage in a small boat ot Sir Ernest and five companions to South Georgia to seek help for the stranded members ot the iipedition. THE EXPLORER'S STORY.

rropvricht in Great Britain by the "Daily Cymric" in America by the "New York World," in Australia by the Australian Press Association. Port Stanley, May 31. have arrived at tb- "-'kland Islands. December 6, 1914, we left South Georgia; on the 8th we encountered heavy rack off tho Sandwich group. The Endurance entered tho pack in 58deg.

40 S. 18deg. W. and tho vessel forced her way by a cevinus cuurse for 1,000 miles through icebergs. On Jiimiiiry 10, 1915, we sighted Coats land 'I'll'' i'-p was becoming lieavier and was The floes were often 150 square miles in ostf-nt.

Wo doi-i'lecl to land at the earliest opportunity and -end the Endurance back to civili-satinn. Wo discovered a new land with 200 miles nf toast line and great glaciers into the sea. This we named Caird Coast. Abnormal Frost. A series of abnormal circumstances commenced.

We observed a great migration of thousands of seals northwards, which was at the time. Vc then expe-ricnwtl hard north-easterly gales, and shel ved belimd large bergs amidst the surging tentuallv we found ourselves beset in the if. riich never opened again. Summer con-rins vrrft non-existent. Contrarv to all w-rinice of the Antarctic in early "February, these con- dsinns apparently accounted for the migration animal life.

346 tne in by nf was on and a The us the the we made northward and pulled the boats up on a flne for the night. A heavy swell set in at midnight, and the noe split under the tent. "We pulled one man out of- the water before tho floes closed together. The whole party waited for daylight on a rocking floe only 100ft. long.

On the 10th we made westward in a heavy snow squall and reached open sea, hut there we met a high swell whicli forced us to retreat to the pack ice. The sea was too heavv for our deeply laden open boats, so during the night I drastically reduced the equipment, and we camped on a floe-berg. The temperature was low and the sea was increasing. The berg began to split during the night. Dawn showed that the berg was undermined, and an icefoot developed.

It was surrounded bv surging pack-ice i undulating to a heavy swell. At uoon on the 11th our opportunity came. The ice opened suddenly, and we flung the boats into the sea over the icefoot of reeling berg. i We proceeded westward all night, as there was no place to camp, and rowed throughout the 12th, continuing west. The position gave anxiety, for observations showed that despite our efforts toj make westward since the 9th the current luid drifted us to the east.

That ight no camping-place was found, and we fastened the boats to the lee side of a floe-berg in a heavy swell. The wind, suddenly shifting, drove tho boats against the berg, cut the painters and escaped to the open Sea. The sea? surface was freezing and tho temperature stood below zero. Several of tho party were suffering from exposure. The Landing on Elephant Island.

On the 13th wo decided to run north for Elephant Island, for it was hopeless to make for Deception Island. On April 14 we sighted Elephant Island 40 miles away. A strong wind heading us wo made little progress. The gale iucreased, and the James Caird took the Stancombe Wills in tow. Hudson and Black-bore were severely frostbitten.

All night a high cross-sea and a furious gale raged with driving snow, and there was a low temperature. At midnight the Dudley Docker disappeared. Ou the morning of the loth we reached the north end of tho island. There were in- wcessipie cutis, but it was decided to attempt that several members of the parly were Aii inspection of tho beach showed that it was lliinn.GK.1 111 vnrt in i ii. nc onvnvn of.

lug" spring tides. On the 16th I sent Wild search the coast for a safer landing. On the wo proceeded westward, but woro 'nearly blown to sea owing to strong winds 1111 wm weakness of a large number ot the party. janded again through a heavy surf. We found that the beach would be untenable in heavy galea, but proceeded to cut a hole in slope, above reach of tho waves.

Owinc to the seriousness of the situation, and the shortage of food, and the inadequate protection against winter I decided to maKe an endeavour to reach South Georgia, 750 miles distant, to obtain help, leaving the main party on Elephant Island in charge of Frank Wild, whose iudement, ability, and experience were a valuable asset to the expe dition. The weather was appallingly bad witu constant blizzards. Our largest boat, the James Caird, 22 feet long, was covered- by the carpenter with sledge-runners, box-lids, and canvas. The Voyage to South Georgia. On Amil 24 I set out with volunteers namely, Worsley, Crean, MacNish, Macarthy, and Vincent.

We passed through the stream ice and ran north with a fair wind during the first night. Day after day we made progress towards the goal, but the sub-Antarctic Ocean maintained its evil winter reputation Snowstorms and gales swept over us for the next and only three times did we get sight of thc sun tor observation. On the -'-th day we were forced to jettison on nlmr enuiiiment to relieve the top- weight owing to tho boat being heavily iced up All our equipment and sleeping gear was soaked throuch. We were constantly at work breaking the ice off the sides and rudder, baling water, and scraping ice out of the boat day and night. All the crew became superficially frostbitten.

I wish at this point to place on record the cheerful attitude of my "onTheeighth dav while hove to in a gale we lost our sea anchor, the rope being cut by the ice. On the fourtcentn oay we signteu the cliffs and the west coast of South Georgia during a clearance in the snowstorm, and wo stood in for tho land, but, observing seas spoutin" on uncharted reefs, we hauled off for thenight. On May 9 the wind again increased to a hurricane, and enormous seas were running on a dead lee shore. We saw nothing till tho afternoon, when between squalls we found we were drifting on to the cliffs. One chance remained.

We set a reefed sail. The boat stood the strain and was kept afloat by continuous baling. The wind shifted at the very crisis, enabling us to clear the land. On the 10th, the gale restarting, I decided in view of the condition of the party and the shortage of water, to beach the boat and try eyjLBDIAS" MAS DEPAJRltSSTi COFXSiaBX. to cross the island to the whaling station on the east coast.

At dusk we managed to beach the boat in a small cove. We were too weak to haul her up, so we hung on to her all night. On the 11th we cut away her topsides which enabled us to haul her up. On the 12th the bay filled with ice, but on the 15th we launched the boat and reached tho head of King Haakon Bay. A March Across the Island.

On May 19 I started across the island. As Vincent and McNish were unfit to march, I took Crean and Worsley with me. As the interior of tlis island was quite unknown, I took three days' provisions and a cooking stove, but no other equipment. Thirty-six hours continuous marching covered thirty miles over glaciers, across mountain ridges, and snowfields from to above sea level. We made good progress, assisted by the moonlight.

We reached Stromness Whaling Station in the afternoon of May 20. This is the first time that the island of South Georgia has been crossed. I received everv fiRsisfanra from manager of the whaling station, Mr. Sorllee, wno despatched a whaler the same night to bring round the remainder of the party. I wish to record the practical sympathy of the managers of the four whaling stations namely.

Mr. Sorllee. of Strom npco- Air Hansen, of Leith Harbour; Mr. Bernsen, of Husvik-Bjergaar and Mr. Jacobsen, of Grvtviken.

The Ice Too Formidable for the Rescue Ship. Realising the urgency of the case, they hastened to equip a whaler, and Captain Thorn volunteered to take command. He ob tained a volunteer crew, and by hard work throughout was ready for sea on the morning of the 23rd. We started south on the 26th. We entered a large area of pancake ico.

Owing to the unprotected condition of the whaler we had to stand north, but on the 27th we renewed the attempt further to the west, where we found streams of pack ice to the south-east and south. We stood north again to clear them. On the 28th we made a final attempt to get to the south, but found the ice too formidable for the little 80-ton, unprotected whaler, though it would he easily negotiable for a large protected vessel. Also, in view of the shortage of coal, we reluctantly decided to turn north for assistance to the Falklands. This decision caused great disappointment to our generous Norwegian friends.

The party on the beach on Elephant Island when I left there on April 24 were well. They naa nve weens provisions and lull rations, exclusive of the possibilities of obtaining seals. The work of the expedition to date in uuucs ine aiscovcrey or 2uu miles ot new coast line and a complete hydrographical survey of the Weddcll Sea, the elimination of New South Greenland from the man. enn- tinuous magnetic and meteorological observa- uuns, important Dioiogical records, Kinema records up to October 30, 1915, and a photo graphic record up to date. Eunesi Shacklbion.

THE VOYAGE TO SOUTH GEORGIA. A WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT. By Dr. W. S.

Bruce (Of the Scotia Aniabctic Expedition). The Weddcll Sea has kept up its reputation as a part of the Antarctic regions, the difficulties of which are not to be dealt with too lightly. The Endurance has been crushed and totally lost and her living freight has been stranded on Elephant Island, one of the most eastern of the South Shetland Islands. Thence Sir Ernest Shacklcton has Bailed in a small boat seven hundred miles to South Georgia in the roughest sea in the world that widely sweeps to the eastward past Cape Horn. The first account of the South Shetlands was published in 1820 in tho Edinburgh Fhilosophical Journal," they having been dis covered by Captain William Smith, of Blythe, ii roDruary, ioiy.

iiater on tney were further explored by Bransfield, Powell, and ir -t i Weddell. Elephant Islund was first charted by Powell in 1821. It lies in about 61 degrees South and 55 degrees West, and has been little viEited except by sealers. Its name, doubt less, was given on account ot the herds of sea elephants that resort to its beaches, espe cially during the breeding season. The island is about thirty miles long and varies from about fifteen to three miles in breadth.

It lies about five hundred miles south-east of Capo Horn, about five hundred and forty miles Bouth of tho Falkland Islands, and about peven hundred miles south-west by west of South Georgia. It is composed of high and raerged land reaching a heieht of about Its summits and valleys are heavily uiaua-cu. is uguicu hi a DBaublim plate In D'Urville's atlas. It is satisfactory to know that the party is gouu ueaitn. any snortage.in food supplies would readily bo made up by sea elephants, seals, and penguins coming ashore, although they would not be so numerous now as earlier in the season.

The boldness of even attempting a passage from the South Shetlands across Cape Horn seas to South Georgia in a 22ft. boat and the success of having actually accomplished such an extraordinary voyage are probably without equal in the history of the navigation of the Southern ocean. It demonstrates that the quality of British seamanship of the present day is in no way inferior to the record it has held in the past, and says much for the anie leauersnip or sir JUrnert Shackloton. As tlio Prime Minister announced on Wednesday in the House of Commons, tha firm. eminent had appointed a committee to advise ai to the steps to be taken for a relief expedition.

That committee has met several times 8nd has drawn up a detailed recommenda tion regaraing the relief expedition. The arrival ot ssir Ernest Shackleton at the Falk laud however, must considerably mooiry cnose plans, but it is most important that his twenty-two companions left on Elephant Island should be relieved at tha earliest possible opportunity. This without douDD win oe earned through. THE MEN ON ELEPHANT ISLAND. Renter's Agency understands that measures necessary for the rescue of the 22 men of the Shackleton Expedition left on Elephant Island are engaging the attention of a com mittee appointed by the Admiralty.

LAKE DOHtAN FIGHTING. (Reuter's Correspondent. Austebdau, Thursday, An official report issued from German Main Headquarters to-day says In the Balkans a weak hostile attack on the southern -point of Lake Doiran was repulsed. Near Brest, north-east of the lake, a number of Serbians have been captured wearing British uniforms NEW VERDUN ASSAULT BY GERMANS. TURKS' MOVE TOWARDS ERZERUM.

RUSSIANS LOSE A TOWN. Before Verdun tho expected renewal of the German assault east of the Meuse took place yesterday. During the last few days' fighting west of the river tho German bombardment on tho other side grew in violence and volumo p.nd was met with energy by the French. Yesterday tho Germans attacked on a front of perhaps three miles, from west of Douaumont Fort to Vaux. East of the fort, according to last night's French official statement, they penetrated tho front trenches in one sector, but everywhere else were repulsed with heavy losses.

The German Headquarters yesterday admitted the French success on the southern slopes of tho Mort Homme tlie previous evening, statiug that the French obtained a foothold1' in' over 400 yards of frontline trenches. On the British front in France, our Head quarters state, the most notable feature yesterday was tho heavy and continuous shelling in the neighbourhood of the Vimy Ridge. An intense bombardment by the Germans preceded the capture of a considerable length of our front line in this region ten days ago; but yesterday British as well as German guns were hard at work. On the Caucasian frnnt. a Tiootrw Turkish attack has driven back the Russian centre.

Mamahatun, which has changed hands several times of late months, has been captured by the enemy. It has still to be seen whether the Turks mean to develop a serious offensive. If thev dispose of any large forces they may be able to defeat one or more of tho Grand Duke Nicholas'smany columns. Tho interior lines are theirs and their communications are the better. Beyond the Suez Canal, in the Katia region, an Anzac mounted force on Wednesday surprised a Turkish camp.

The enemy were driven eastward in route, their camp iauing as it stood into British hands. Airmen took over the pursuit, and by bombing the fugitives inflicted on them further losses. The Turks now occupy only a little part of the Sinai Desert. By successive blows they have been driven back almost to their own frontier. From the Sudan comes news which confirms the reported thoroughness of the defeat inflicted on thc discontented Sultan of Darfur.

GERMAN ATTACK EAST OF MEUSE. A SLIGHT SUCCESS. The French official rennrt issuer, lnct. nirvht L-t- i i uic iaeuse mere was intermittent bombardment in the sectors of Avocourt Wood and the Mort Homme. On.

tlie east bank, after a very violent artillery operation, the enemy attacked our positions between Thiaumont Farm and On Vl WACf i "1 If I Vaux. After several fruitless assaults, the enemy succeeded in penetrating our flrst-Jine trencne3 between Douaumont Port and Vaux pond. Everywhere else the German attacks were broken down by our machine-gun fire, which, caused the enemy heavy losses. Artillery was moderately active on the rest of the front. TURKISH JiFFENSIVE.

MAMAHATUN RECAPTURED FROM RUSSIANS. (Exchange Telegram.) Petrograd, Thursday. An official report issued by Russian Headquarters to-night Bays: On the Caucasian front, in the direction of Baiburt, considerable xumsn forces made night attacks against one of our sectors, but were obliged to retreat under the concentrated fire of our infantry. At the same time, considerable enemy forces attempted kj ouut-uin uur -aueui at jtiama-hatun. We evacuated Mamahatun after de straying the bridge.

In the neighbourhood of Diarbekr en ad. vance of enemy infantry and Kurd cavalry Was repulse uy uui uie. (Press Association War Special.) Amsterdam. Thursday. The following official report was issued in Constantinople to-day: On the Caucasus front on the right wing tnere are no events xecora oepond unimportant infantry fire.

The offensive which we opened on Tuesday morning against the Bussian positions five miles west. 3t miles south, and 124 miles south-east of Mamahatun, along a front of nearly 20 miles, was successful, as the operations surprised the Busaians, who were obliged to retreat from this sector, partly towards the east and partly towards the north-east, without being able to offer any serious resistance. We occupied Mamahatun. A oounter-ollensive by the Russians failed after vigorous artillery, iniantry, and bomb fighting. A DAMAGED ZEPPELIN.

Bettor's Correspondent.) Copenhagen, Thursday. It is reported from Sonderbo, in the island of Fano, that the Zeppelin 24 passed there at 11 30 this morning going south-west, She was apparently badly damaged. According to the "RibeStiftetidende," about midday to-day people at Sonderbo observed the 24 flying in a southerly direction close to land and very low. The airship was evidently in distress and completely at the -mercy of the wind. Tha steering gear was failing and volumes of smoke were irjsuing from the The envelope at times sloped at an angle of 45 degrees.

When rnundinc the southernmost point of Fano airship, over which the crow plainly had then ao control, drifted over some Danish villages ii iti' -rr ana nnauy- passea over me viiiage or -xiorn into territory. The same lournhl adds that this morning heavy firing was "heard from IFano lies; in Uje North 8ea, Just north the SaQermatt frontier. VIMY RIDGE. BRITISH GERMAN GUNS HARD AT WORK. The telegraphic despatch received from the British Headquarters early this morning states that tho feature of yesterday was the bombardment by both fides in the Vimy Ridco neighbourhood.

The renort is as follows Thursday, 10 15 p.m. testerday our aeroplanes while on reconnaissance had a long running fight with three hostile machines. One enemy machine was driven down, and one of our machines is missing. During the night hostile aircraft dropped eight bombs on (west of Ypres), doing no damage. There has been continuous and heavy snelltnp all day by both British and German puns of all calibres in the neighbourhood of viinv Ridge (north of Arras).

At times the nre has been intense. This has been the most noticeable feature ln. to-day's operations. This artillery activity extended also in a minor degree northwards m. the direction of Loos.

In "the neighbourhood of Ypres the artillery on both sides lias been active, as also in the region of the River Somme. As usual, there has been some mining both the vicinity of Loos and in the re-entrant of our trench line about Fricourt, just north of the Somme. Beyond the ordinary trench activity there has been no infantry engagement during the past twenty-four hours. The German Headquarters reported yesterday To the north and south of Lens the lively artillery activity continued vesterdav. An English biplane was brought down to the west of Cambrai in an aerial battle.

The occupants, who were officers, were injured and taken prisoners. 1 OUR NAVY AND ARMY AIRMEN. GALLANTRY IN ATTACK. The Air Board (says the Press Bureau) has decided to publish at intervals a summary of the principal incidents described in reports received from the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps in the "arious theatres of war. The following is a selection from the first of these communications Royal Naval Air Service.

In Flanders, on May 4, nineteen machines carried out a raid on the Mariakcrke aerodrome, and fifty 651b. bombs were dropped. Heavy anti-aircraft fire with incendiary shells was encountered, and two of our machines were lost, the remainder returning safely. On May 20 Flight Sub-Lieutenant when tour miles off Blankenburshe, observed a German seaplane. Diving down to 4,500 feet, the pilot succeeded in getting above and behind the enemy and fiTed twenty-five rounds at close range.

The enemy machine was observed to swerve and dive into the water and sink. On May 21, during the. early hours, an Allied raid was carried out on enemy aerodromes and places of military importance. Sixteen machines dropped thirty-eight 651b. bombs nad seventeen other bombs on the Mariakerke aerodrome.

One seaplane dropped a 1001b. bomb and two 651b. bombs on the Solvay Works, Zcebrugge. All the machines returned safely, with one exception. Chasing Raiders Over the Sea.

On the same day an attack was made upon Dunkirk by hostile aircraft. Several British machines went up with the object of cutting off the enemy. On the return journey Fight Sublieutenant D. attacked three machines in turn. One, large two-seater.

Rta.rt.fi rl in nose-dived towards the sea. Another officer in the air at the same time says he observed in the same locality what appeared to be a machine on tire. Flight Sub-Lieutenant when six miles out to sea, observed five hostile machines, which he attacked. -One dived steeply; the others made good their retreat. Flight Commander A.

followed the raiders -u oca. xx ciosea witn tnree and opened fire. One toppled over suddenly and nosedived out of sight. Reloading, the pilot attacked another, which dived steeply. The 1B prouaDie tnat one, pos siDiy two, of the three machines were destroyed, Feats in France.

Royal Flying Corps, France. On May 4 Cnnn i viia lieutenant u. sighted a hostile machine, which ho attacked. The German tried to land, out nit a wire fence and broke up. Lieutenant chased the pilot and observer, whom he saw running across the fields.

One fell, the other hid in a shed. Lieutenant C. returned safelv On th-T same day Captain T. was killed bv anti-aircraft fire. His nhwrt-or climbed into the pflofs seat, and, although the himself unhurt.

On May d6 twenty-seven combats in the air luus. piace. -Liieuienant u. ana corporal at- 4..1. 111 an Aiuabruns near jLiiiie.

Alter a spiniea contest ana snillul manoeuvring the hostile machine went down rapidly, and was seen to strike tlie ground at a cross-roads south of Lille. Smoke rose from the spot, and only one wing was visible. A Fokker then attacked, but was driven off. On May 19 Sergeant on a De Havilland, encountered a Fokker. Fire was opened at fifty yards, and the enemy machine sideslipped, turned on its back, and crashed to eaxtn.

A Twisting Fugitive. On May 21 Second Lieutenant on a Mar-tinsyde, flying at 12,500 feet, saw an Albatross over Fromelles at 9,000 feet He dived at it, reserving his fire till within close range. Both machines were diving at a high speed with engines on. Second Lieutenant having expended one drum, changed and continued the attack. rne enemy endeavoured -to manoeuvre out of fire, turning in -all directions, but Second Lieutenant T.

manoeuvred and Tnanatreil to keep the enemy under fire at in tervals. At about 4,000 feet, over South-west Lille, the machines nearly collided. The enemy, after descending in a vertical dive, recovered and escaped. ITALIANS LOSE GROUND. AUSTRIAN ATTACKS PRESSED HOME.

(Press Association War Rome, Thursday. The official report issued from Italian Headquarters to-day says In the sector of Monte Pasubio there was artillery activity on both sides and repeated enemy attacks in the direction of Forhi Alti, which were brilliantly beaten back by our Alpine troops. In the zone between the Posina and th? Tinner Astico the violent action continued ve. terday. In the afternoon an enemy column having crossed tne rosina torrent delivered an attack in the direction of Monte Spin.

The attack was stopped on the extreme northerly slrmes of the mountain. Another coliimn. advancing towards San Tubaldo, south-west oi Arslero, was oeieatea and repulsed in dis order Deyona tne rosina torrent. (Press Aisoctatton War Amsterdam. Thursday To-day's official Austrian report issued in Vienna says Our forces advancing 'eastward in the region north of Asiago crossed the road east of Monte Fiara and Monte Baldo.

East of Arsiero we captured the Monte i-t-iigiu ouuui ouu -x rescue. Nine hundred Italians, including 15 officers. together witb, three inachbie' guns, fell into our hands. gained a tooting on tne soutn Dans or tne. Posina brook and repulsed a strong Italian counter-attack.

x-r Enemy attacks egainst our positions near -Chiese (the Brand Valley) and east of the Bnble Pass likewise failed. legion L-oi oneneive nss increased to -Ji? gns. uux total bootv cannot fuUv; estimated. TJn to now 148 machine -euna and 22 hnmtw throwers, .1. t.

i 1 i I -5 EVIDENCES OF GROWING DISTRESS. HOPES BUILT ON THE HARVEST There are two very awkward obstacles to contend with in making any estimate of the actual state of German and Austrian economic affairs: first, the fact that Germany has considered it wiser to conceal her trade returns since the beginning of the war, a policy which Austria lost no time in copying and, secondly, the rigour and the innuendo of tho censorship. Lately the press have been permitted to make a fine show of daring candour, but, generally speaking, both enemy and neutral countries are limited in their real knowledge of Germany's home affairs to odd outbursts here and there in the press, or occasional sentences various newspapers, which have to be construed carefully together. Genuine German private letters, such as those found on dead or captured German soldiers, are often very instructive. There is also information which comes through certsin well-informed but this is somewhat late.

Consequently it is impossible to obtain any clear review of tho situation until some tune has elapsed. But, looking back on the position of German internal affairs during the months preceding April, it is encouraging to find that the reports from all sources agree in their circumstantial account of the growing distress and discomfort in Germany, which are the direct result of the Allied blockade. Meat Scarcity. Perhaps the greatest problem of the present moment is the meat problem, and in the light of thc recent disclosures during the organi sation of tho meat-ticket it is interesting tc recall that in April the Prussian Government issued a statement about "the present and temporary scarcity of meat," to the effect- that, if people are duly modest in their de mands," the existing supplies would prove sufficient for the needs of the army and the. people.

Meanwhile the meat ration in Saxony was only 18ob. per person per week, and whilst the Minister of Agriculture finds it necessary to approach the Minister of War regarding a reduction of the army's consumption of meat during the next three months, the Prussian Minister of Agriculture comes out with an order to kill all crows, starlings, sparrows, 6torks. and also roe-deer and goats, in order to swell the amount of food at the disposal of Germany's population. The increased cost of living has brought with it the granting of various forms of additional war bonuses to the working classes, but it is now being pointed out that the need the middle classes (in the words of the Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung is daily becoming more urgent and requires remedial organisation. Despairing Letters.

The tone of intercepted German letters varies naturally according to the state of body and mind of tho writer, but it is interesting their desperate assurances. To quote one or two: Berlin, March 4. Here life is no longer wotUi living. Food is very dear; often we can buy nothing, and do not know what will become, of us. Hamburg, March 6.

Many a day I spend hours in the streets going from one shop to another in search of provisions and finding none. I am astonished that the people still preserve some measure of calm. Brunswick, March 3. I am continually hungry. Meat and sausage I have not eaten 6ince I don't know when nothing but fish and cheese.

There is no possibility of getting any butter, lard, or potatoes. For on whole week I had no potatoes. One really does not know on what one can live. It is dreadful. Oberschlesien, March 5.

Food is three times as dear as it used to be, and there is no meat, -butter, or dripping nothing but unceasing work. It is enough to drive you mad. The devil has come from hell to Oberschlesien. Weimar. There is famine in Germany.

The rich eat meat and all they want, but the poor are dying of starvation. The poor fellows in the trenches are complaining dreadfully of hunger too. Other letters, of course, are much- more cheerful, and tell of the flourishing state of German trade, of barracks swarming with soldiers, of enough men for another two years of war, according to the position in life of the writer, whilst others still allude to the fact that they are forbidden to give a true account of things as they really are in Germany, and show disappointment with the results obtained in the field. The Public Agitation. April was the month which hatched the public ferment regarding the irregularities of the food supply, and led to innumerable demonstrations and riots in Berlin, Chemnitz, Vienna, Dresden, Jena, and other' places.

Bad feeling between the towns and the country came into prominence, and crystallised in the memorandum of the German Municipal Congress (representing 27,000,000 -town-dwellers) to the Chancellor on the 'subject of the country supplying its own-needs, first and sending its surplus only to feed the towns. Then the various Food Bureaus sprang up, with the Central Purchasing Company as an axis, to control the importation of food supplies, whilst the food tickets steadily -added to their number. On April 4 Germany was cheered by the announcement that 400,000 tons vof wheat and rye would be left over for. next year's crop, instead of the 200,000 tons allowed for. But.

this lost heavily in effect by the pub- iivauuu -y i--w- greater economy, complaints by the Union of Berlin Grocers of scenes taking place, in the shops owing to the scarcity of flour, and also the absolute prohibition of the baking of cakes made from wheat and rye flours at Easter. mere is aiso a eeriuus auonage or lOuaer. The-Sugar Puzzle; The Sugar Bureau has fixed the ration Tor the general public, including hotels, 'y at one kilogramme a month (as compared with an average peace consumption of two kilogrammes). This sugar famine is indeed very 11 i I. iu pujbAUJJg.

vrciuiaujr uauaiij DULJLrilctx iiaiL tut world with sugar, and had exceptionally large crop, which was cut off from export to, Great Britain yet prices are high' and stocks are extremely scarce. A wealthy citizen of Leipzig, writing to thank a Norwegian relative for having, at his argent request sent him 101b. of sugar, -said that it was a relief to have sugar the; house again, and that he had never thought that be would live to see things come to such, a paw in Leipzig. jp In Austria the large consumption of sugar wnnnHi cnnsiaerBDiv of the sugar-ticKet, wmca. prevented the boarding of '(supplies BottvGJrmany and Austria nave preaiiy reiaxeu tne restrictions on the use and marmfactiire of sacdiarine; But by far the wont problem' both Geiv many -and Austria i r''-abflige of ediW as to uermaiiT.

eugagnvjua st In the middle of February there were signs 1 1916; slowly drifting north. Thc floe jce ol the ice opening, so, despite the shortage ti i coal, we attempted' to break out. By thefrLW sma11 der the attack of neighbouring r.il of February there were 49 degrees of i icebergs and gales, and was finally reduced to fwt. and the old and the young nacks were 100 yards square. In Januarv we shot five After full con.i,Wn;.

I decided. impossible to move a large party across working ice, tO Camn in flio iriftinivT a( recK ana our salved stores, and to depend tne northerly drift and the summer break- up- October 31 we reached a heavy floe there made our ocean camp. We salved lU Hom tne slnp by cutting through the me mam decK, and we grappled out hundred cases of food. Our three boats-named respectively, after donors to the expedition, the James Caird, Dudley Docker, and Stancombe-Wills were prepared for a sea journey. For the next two months we drifted north.

Endurance sank on November 20. The November drift was only 60 miles to the good, the December drift was equally disappointing, northerlv gales repeatedly driving back after good progress. On December 23 we left Ocean Camp, as ice appeared close enough to travel over. Hauling the boats, marching night and day through deep enow, and cutting through pressure ridges, the whole party, with two boats, advanced nine miles in five days. Patience Camp." On December 28 rotten ice made it lni- possible to proceed, the boats sinking througl: i brash.

At times the various units were isolated on separate floes. We were forced to retreat and set up "Patience Camp." There were passed Januarv, February, and March. ot our owing to the shortage of food. The party were put on stringent rations because of the dearth of seals and tho limited hunting radius. In January, 1916, we crossed the Antarctic circle.

February passed without any hope i escape. uy tlie middle of March the winter commenced, with low temperatures, long nights, and heavy blizzards. We were drifting north rapidly, arid a northerly swell indicated that open water was close. On March 23 we sighted the distant peaks of Joinville Island (the northom West Antarctica), but nn impenetrable belt of ice working under pressure precluded any attempt of crossing to the land. On April 7 we sighted Clarence Island (tho most easterly of tho South Shetlands).

snewy Narrow Escapes. Here the party had a narrow escape. A great berg driving through tho pack missed us by only 200 yards. On April 8 the floe on which our camp was pitched split to pieces under the influence of the swell. As the ico opened wo launched the boats.

The tide rip driving the ice almost finished our expedition. Rowing through masses of pact, t-AKCBJESTSK I rcmoiitea togetner. it was impussiuiB tu mim cr extricate the ship, and wo prepared to winter. The winter was, generally speaking, mild, ividi the usual blizzards. Sixty-seven degrees -f frot was tho lowest temperature we The Endurance drifted south-west.

rr.irhinrr ji furthest 'south of 77den. south laiitnde (lnneittidj 35dotr. westV "We continued a zigzag drift across tho "Weddell Sea i- the north-west, immovably fixed in the tws. General scientific work was carried nit meanwhile. la view of the possibility of pressure we riar.vl our sledging stores on deck, and wo trained the dogs for emergencies.

Twenty di tr died frrvm sicknrs5. Some of the dogs disappeared on April 15 for 109 days. Intense Ice Pressure. In mid-April we. had a moment of grave aisxiety.

The pack drove the ship towards a stranded berg, and we were saved only a sudden change in the drift. In June bewail the menace of the ice pressure, the ice rafting up to a height of 20 feet close to the In July the pressure became more intense, and there were ominous signs that the ship would be involved in the pressure. The iie row into ridges of 40 feet in height, grinding into the. floes ahead. Blocks of 30 tons eio thrown about, communicating shocks ti.e ship.

preparations for the worst eventualities were completed on August 1. While er-a-niriinrr the nQea during a blizzard the ice 'M under my feet, and I had just rushed dos on board when with a grinding crash procure took us. Endurance hove bodily out of the ice was flung before the gale against masses it up-driven ice. The vessel stood the strain middav ihc nrnssiirn tprspH. Tha 'mvii -i uan uul ui iuc naKi autx her rudder split.

Thenceforth the Endurance was a focus of pressure. In September she was badly 'pped. her sides bending and her beams Eventually she rose clear. the middle of October we broke clear the tfoe. and a distant water-sky gave hope ihimato safety.

We were now drifting s.ros what was reputed to be New South but our soundings showed fatlioms of water. Then came renewed and the stern-post was damaged. ship was now leaking dangerously, and put steam on the main engine, and all rumps were continuously worked. On October 16, in the direct space of ten sor.ds. through heavy pressure, the Endur-cc was thrown out on to the ice on her with temperatures below zero and umps ireezing.

The End of the Endurance. On October 26 the floe9 commenced screw-: lng acd caused the ship's sides to open. We vrtd the boats, sledges, and provisions on tU ice. On October 27 the end came. tt'iiifie pressure culminated in tearing the and rudder posts, the main deck "pwards.

Icebergs pierced the ti' watpr overmastered the pumps, ex-guisauia the fires. I ordered all hands o.n The pressure continuing near the ba shifted the equipment, ha- the excellent moral of all lCr?" At midnight a crack opened throuch tvat 0 pressure continued and there wind, with 48 degrees of frost. a Uciober 28 we moved camp. The ship to thn nnner deck. Her fore tnaia mast had been twisted out fay the trere- oi tne party' was cerious.

We a 69 degrees 5 min. south latituaea and.