NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8606, 10 March 1897, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Another instance of the evolution of science! The other day there were three schemes of Polar exploration : Nansen was attempting 1 to proceed in the Fram by water: Jackson and Harm worth were striving to accomplish the task by sledging on land; and M. Andre was making serious preparations for a rapid balloon journey. Now a fourth 'and totally distinct method is proposed. An enterprising Frenchman named Fesce is willing to undertake a journey to the North Pole in a submarine boat, and he bases his belief that this is the simplest means of getting there on the observations of the explorers Nansen and Frithjof. M. Pesce points out that submarins boats can be navigated and manoeuvred at a certain depth under water, and that they are habitable for periods of time proportionate to their size In the opinion of th 6 explorer Nansen, the Arctic seas are not entirely covered with ice throughout their whole extent, but the ice surface presents large openings, through which M. Pesce and his submarine boat could from time to time emerge to take in a fresh stock of air. In fact, the boat would mostly follow the system of diving under icebergs or awkward tracts of ice, while at times, with the aid of dynamite, it could pierce air holeg' in the ice covering above it. M. Pesce also suggests a system of small balloons for conveying news of his whereabouts to the continent. *»■ # * One thing is certain—nothing can surpass the daring originality of M. Pesca's idea— though the balloon theory will doubtless run it very hard for scientific audacity and cold courage. The question which now

suggests itself is:—Have we yet reached

the end of our human tether in including all possible means of approach to Polar regions ? It is, of course, dangerous to prophesy, but we would be inclined to answer the query in the affirmative. Human ingenuity has already claimed, as its natural field, "the heaven above and the earth beneath,' and now M. Pesce is going to utilise " the water under the earth " In fact, we have had land, sea, and oversea, culminating in under-sea; and thera can be no other sphere of approach open to mankind unless some genius comes forward

to propose a subterranean railway or motor car service, with a Mahatma penny post.

* # * * The old snow king of the Far North must frequently laugh at all these preparations for his conquest; but his secret may yet be unravelled, Nansen came very noar to that consummation with his tight little vessel the Fram, and nearer still when he made his flying dash across the ice with Johansen; while the steady and systematic work which Jack-

son is accomplishing in gradually extending his provision bases, is also a force to be reckoned with. Andre's balloon and Pesce's

sub-marine boat represent more fanciful ideas, but there is no saying what the future may bring forth, especially when science has solved the problem of balloon guidance. In the meanwhile, the continental formation ofjtke Antarctic, with its attractions both commer-

oial and scientific, seems to be at last rccciv-

ing a share of public attention, which has hitherto been almost the monopoly of the Morth.