The Washington times., 1917-05-07
SHACEIETON GOING
TO SERVE AT FRONT
Tells Explorers Club He Is Glad
Of Chance to Do Full Share.

NE" 1Ohh- MAY is-LaeuI SIR
Ernest H. Shackleton was the
luncheon guest Of the Explorers Club
at the Hotel Majestic recently. and
made q short talk in which he de-
scribed the present situation as that
OF "one-half the world gone mad and
the other half attempting to tame II"
The United States, he said, had en-
tered the war at the psychological
moment, and by rising to the height
OF which she Is capable" could be a
power In finishing the war at an early
day.
an the antarctic" said Sir Ernest.
Eve faced situations that were the
measure OF men. Men revealed char
acteristics which had not seen In
them in the midst Of civilization
They either rose or fell before great
tests. And this war Is also measur-
ing men, and measuring natiSns. We
are finding out what men and
nations are fundamentally. and II
the nations of the world who have re-
manned outside OF the struggle GOULD
understand what this war means
there would be q rush to Join in the
fight for the future OF the world.
Nati0n's Manhood Needed
This country has taken Its stand
Money and ships Will be needed from
you, but more than that IL necessary.
It Is necessary for the manhood OF the
nation to stand up and be prepared to
meet the sacrifices that may be en-
tailed. I hope the American people
will soon have the chance OF meeting
the supreme sacrifice"
Speaking more personally. Sir Ern-
est displayed the spirit that made It
possible for. him to disregard the
chances OF death In the antarctic.
"I shall soon be in the service of
the allies. and am glad OF q chance to
do my share. You may know that
twelve of the men who were with me
In the antarctic are at the front, and
eleven more will be there soon One
of those who went was killed on the
first day he arrived in the trenches
and perhaps he Is the best OF, for.
after all, death IL . little thing. !
call the war the great adventure, and
II you die IN It what does II matter?
The war will mean that future gener-
ations win be safeguarded- That Is
the big thing"
Afraid Of Tropics.
Sir Ernest also paid his compliments
to the explorers Of the tropics.
People ask me-" he said. "why I
chose to 60 into the antarctic, and I
tell them that I don't know. It Just
draws me. why do you go where 1t
Il so coldT' an explorer Of the tropics
once said to me, adding: I would die
II went into the cold Well. know
I'd die II went into the tropics. ad-
mire the courage of those fellows
who are not afraid of the tropics. In
the Antarctic all we have Il cold and
Ice and weather. We do not have any
germs. In the tropics you go to
sleep, and something comes Up during
the night and bites your leg on, and
when you wake up you are dead"
Carl E Akeley, the president OF
the club, presided at the luncheon.
The first speaker was Dudley Field
Malone, collector Of the port, and
the next was Theodore Rousseau,
representing Mayor Mitchell, who, IN
the name of the mayor, extended Of
fetal greetings to Sir Ernest and Of
fered him the keys OF the city.
Many explorers and persons inter-
ested In explorations were present
At night Sir Ernest told q large
audience at Carnegie Hall of his ex-
periences in the antarctic, and again
at the close of his lecture, he ex-
horted Americans to stand together
with their allies in the great ad-
venture" on the European battle
fields. The money realised from the
lecture Is to be devoted to war re-
lief The lecture was given under
the auspices of the American Geo
graphical Society and the American
Museum of History, and more than
$500 persons heard It. On Wsdnes-
day or Thursday, OF this week, Sir
Ernest plans to deliver the lecture
again IN some hall still to be chosen,
and the proceeds Of this lecture also
Will 20 to war relief.