Has Nansen Found The Pole.

Hastings Standard, Issue 19, 18 May 1896, Page 4

Has Nansen Found The Pole.

At the sitting of the Russian Geographical Society on 24th March (says a Renter's telegram from St Petersburg) Baron Toll, the celebrated Arctic explorer, read a letter, received on the loth instant, from Professor Broker, of Chr'istiania, in which the latter, speaking of Dr Nansen, says:—" Knowing Nansen's character as I do, Ido not entertain any doubt as to the trnth of the telegram concerning bin), and can fully account to myself for his present situation. Ido nut doubt but that he is at the present oa his return journey from the North Pole. On taking leave of me at Tromsoe, Nansen said :—' I reckon on being back in two or three year 3.' Now, whoever knows .Nansen has impicit faith in him. The obstacles presented in the Polar Sea cannot exceed the difficulties afforded by icefloes off the east coast of Greenland, or those presented by the ice fields of that continent. On this occasion, moreover, Nansen is fully twenty times better equipped than he was on his previous expedition, and his companions have beon especially selected lor the task. Personally, I have no doubt but that these 18 brave men were able within two and a half years to work their way to the Pole, and I am firmly p< rsuaded that they are on their way back. According to the telegram Nansen discovered land at the Pole, and to me it is perfectly clear that he found the return journey by way of the New Siberia Islands the more suitable. The land in the neighbourhood of the North Pole is, no doubt, covered like Greenland with a thick layer of permanent ice, in which case he would only be able to explore the region in snow shoes. Under these circumstances he probably found it perferable to return south to the New Siberia Islands than to advance towards tho west and south-west. I believe so firmly in Dr Nansen and his companions that I am convinced that the explorer reached the North Pole according to his programme. The news telegraphed could not have come from Dr Nansen personally, even if he had reached the New Siberia Islands, because he would have been in no hurry to give news before he was assured that his acheievhment was complete, the safe return of the Fram to Norway being of capital importance. Dr Nansen hoped to present- the Fram for future expeditions, and that is the reason why I do not expect further news of him until his return on board the Fram to Norway. That, as I sincerely hope, will be next autumn." Baron Toll, after reading the letter, said :—" We also believe in Dr Nansen, and if he does not arrive at the period indicated by Professor l>rogger, there will still be time to semi an expedition to explore the New Siberia Islands, and, if possible, Sannikoff Land."