UNDER THE SEA TO THE NORTH POLE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 120, 23 May 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

UNDER THE SEA TO THE NORTH POLE.

Horr. Anschutz-Kampfe, of Vinnna, has commenced his project of reaching the North Pole by means of a sub-marine boat. The promoter ol this most remarkable of schemes oi Arctic exploration has practically completed his plans.

When the Austrian scientist first brought it before the Geographical Society, assembled in Vienna, a year ago, it was looked upon as visionary. One objection after another was raised, and there were many who regarded the idea as simply preposterous.

Herr Anschutz-Kempfe, however, was convinced of the feasibility ol his idea, and he did not give it up because scientific men thought, unfavourable of it. By applying first to one capitalist and then to'another, by the hardest kind of work, backed by the greatest amount oi determination, he has at last succeeded in raising the necessary funds to build his sub-marine vessel.

The explorer has obtained Government aid for his venture. The boo* is now awaiting the finishing touches at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, ancj the crew of daring navigators, five in number, who will risk their lives for the sake of glory are ready to go aboard whenever the summons comes

While the idea of reaching the Pole by a sub-marine route is not original he is the first to seriously undertake the building of a boat designed for the purpose.

Jules Verne in ■" Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," long ago outlined the sub-marine North Polo scheme, and other men since, have discussed the project seriously.

- Anschutz-Kampfc's boat is 70ft. long and 20ft. in diameter, and looks not unlike an egg. The outer hull and the framework of the craft arc of steel. The boat is made especially for supporting a great coinpressive weight of water.

The average depth to which the sub-marine boat will descend is 160 feet, though her owner does not think she will be required to navigate at this depth for any great length of time. v

When the sub-marine project was first mooted it was pointed out that Anschutz-Kampfe would bo required in passing under a large iceberg, to go to a depth of several hundred feet. An iceberg which projects 100 feet above the surface of the water "draws" 600 feet of water. Tn order to obviate this difficulty it was necessary for the sub-marine explorer to select a place in the Arctic seas free from large icebergs.

This point lies off Spltzbergen, and is about 600 miles from the Pole. Here the ice, according to Nansen, is about 30 feet in average thickness, seldom more that that. From Spitz bergen to the Pole the ice is not one solid sheet but is broken up every four or five miles by crevices.

However the opinion of eminent Arctic explorers is, generally speaking, against the feasibility of the daring Austrian's scheme.