Show AUSTRIAN SCIENTISTS BACK UP KOENIGS KOENIG'S PRIORITY CLAIM I VIENNA March 11 Austrian 11 Austrian geographers geographers geog geog- raphers came out today In vigorous support support support sup sup- port of at Dr Di Felix Ko Koenig In the controversy sy with Sir Ernest Shackleton over o the plans plane for tor the rival rl Austrian and British expeditions expedition j this year which have aroused strong international Jeal- Jeal J The Tho council of the Austrian Geo Geographical cal al society issued a a. statement declaring ring that the plans o of ol the Austrian expedition to be commanded bv by Dr Koenig were wore announced announced announced an an- in June 1 13 while those of oC SIt Sir Ernest o rnest Shackleton's expedition were re published published pub pub- in No ember No ember Since then the council council coun coun- cil says cays Sir Ernests Ernest's plans have gradually taken Itken definite form torm continually coming n nearer to those thole of ot Dr Koenig Sir Ernests Ernest's statement in 1910 when ho he claims his program was formed were absolutely Indefinite and without a germ of ot a a. plan according to The Koenig expedition has absolute priority The controversy arose when Sir Ernest Shackleton stated his hll intention of starting to cross the antarctic continent from a abase abase abue base bue on eddell sea to which Dr Koenig claims a prior right Sir Ernest recently retus refused d to operate co with the Austrians except in regard to meteorological and magnetic observations and suggested that if It Dr Df Koenig thought there was not room for tor both expeditions he should choose some Orne other route |