PEARY'S LATEST POLAR EXPEDITION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12599, 13 September 1905, Page 7

PEARY'S LATEST POLAR EXPEDITION.

Commander Rdbert Peary has given Renter some details of the North Polar expedition under 'his command, just leaving New York tor the Arctic. His plan is based upon the Smith Sound, or " American" route to the Pole, and foia object is to force his ship to a base "within 500 miles of the Pole itself, and then to sledge across the Polar pack. The Arctic 6hip Roosevelt, which has been specially built for this, expedition, ihas been constiracted so. as to withstand the heavy ice pressure, and is so slhaped fbhat the pressure of 'the doe-pack will have the effect of raising the vessel out of the (water. Both bows and stern are armoured -with one-inch steel plating. The Roosevelt is 185 feet long, 35 feat beam, 1500 tons displacement and draws 16 feeb of water. The ship will carry a (jjvireless telegraphic outfit, which, with

oSfesq^two relay stations in Greenland, ; will keep Tier in communication with the j»# + permanent telegraph station at Ohft^au * Bay, Labrador, and mienee by existung lines with New York. By the same means communication with the explorer will be possible, at least for a portion of the distance, when in February.next the sledge party leaves - ■" ,thb Roosevelt for the northern dash. 11 The ship will carry two,years' supplies. She presents a complete reversal of previous customj in that, insFead of being ' a. sailing ship -vVifch auxiliary engines, she ;js a powerful steamer with auxiliary sail power. Under forced draught the engine will 'be" able to develop 1500 indicated horse-power, and under natural draught 1000 indicated hcrae-power. ' It is intended to establish a perma- ' ■iient, sub-bais© ,»t Cap© Saibinej- on the wes'toqa^ of. Smith's Sound,.arid* after ,', securing; pie. services.,*.<rf the ""necessary \ ■ '.i4^^kinTifls, Jtpt> ■ • vessel; ou^h Channels to tho ncrthcain coast of Grant Land 'or of Greenland if the conditions should compsl it, and there winter within 500 miles of the Pole. From these winter quarters a start north over the 'Polar pack -will :be made in February. ■ The advantages-claimed for this route are that Peary's fixed land base will be 100 miles nearer 4<he Pole than on any other route, that a more rigid ilce-pack extending Polewaird is to be found than on the other side of the Pole, that there I*9 :a richer land base to which to return and a well-known line of oommunioation and a'etreat from the ship to comparatively low latitudes. Mrs Peary and her daughter will accompany tho explored-, and will remain at the 'base during ithe northern dash.