New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-04
A NEW ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
PREPARATIONS IN GREAT BRITAIN.


OFFICERS AND CEEw-pEsCRirTIoN oP THE
VESSELS AND THTIR FQUuMNSTS-NTEREsr
MANIFESTED IN TIE FXPTDuION-DiNNER AND
STITCHES AT PORTSMOUTH.
IrRoM Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIN rRlRrNEl
LoNncN May 22.-As recently as the 18th of
November last. Mr.. Dsracl in letter 90 Sir Henry
Rawlinson, announced the intention Of tho British
Government 10 lose no time in sending out
"renevcA expedition" 10 explore the region OF The
North Pole Mr. Dsraeli stated in bis letter That
his Government had come 60 this determination III
consideration of the rea set forth 10y representa-
tons from the Council Of the Royal Gcosraphlcu
Society. Inc Royal Society and the British Ass0ca-
ton and other eminent scientific bodies as we'll rs
through an appreC atiou OF the scientific adNa-
tageS DC derived from IT, Of its chances oi success
and of the importance of encouraging thas Spil1 OF
maritime enterprise which has ever distinguished tie
English people. On the 29th of the present month
after little more than SIX months preparation
one of tho most perfectly equipped expeditions that
ever set out for tho Polar regions VIII leave Ports
mouth With the confident hope Chat it Y III secure 10
The British people the honor of that loDg-covetcd
Arctic pIzo the discovery OF the North Pole itseli
IL is scarcely too much a. say that the OIgzItion
and dispatch OF this expedition is tie most popular
thing that has been done 10y The present Government
since ii has been in power. The pTopoS2l Was r'-
ccived with the unanimous approval of the press
and the few criticisms that wcre offered when inc
vote was taken in Parliament for the necessary eN-
pcuses parook more of the nature of advice to the
Government on certain details than Of anything IKE
an objection to the proposal. The saln asked
s9s, 600 was unanimously voted. even though u
was in.imatea 10y Mr.. Hunt the Naval Minister that
n further sum Of { $4,000 would be required If 1t
were necessary TO send ont % contingent or RELIEF
shin in ease of tho expedition not returning so soon
as was expected.
THIS expedtion will doubtless start with adj
yantaees Of every kind which have not fallen 10 the
LOT of any previous Arctic vOyagers. In the hrSt
place it win have the nesimable advantage 81 eN-
pericnce Ii will be able by anticipation, - provide
for many and indeed all the difficulties which have
been encountered by the long list Of its British ald
American predecessors. from Sir John Ross IN the
Enterrrise to Captain Hall in the lOlaTis. The
British Government has undertaken the task with
no sparng hand. Everything in any way useful
that past experience or ioresg ht suggest has
been carried out in the arrangement aud equipment
of the ships. In the selection OF the commanding
officer Of the expedition. Captain Mares the
Government has secured the services Of man OF
great scientific attaiuments rs well as no mean
amount Of previous Arctic experience. Experience
has shown so at least the best Informed gogaphers
contend, that the only route by which the Pole Is 10
i've reached is that by way of Blin'sB Bay and Smiths
Sound. The alternative ronte Ivy Behring'S Straits
and through the Spitzbergen Seas. which has but
few FRI ans presents il is alleged. many difficulties
and gives no compensatng advantage. Tho former
route has consequently been chosen. 1t remains 10
he seeli of course whether tho uneXplored regions
beyond the Goth degree of latitude will present any
difficulties creator than those which have been
Anticipated. 1t is to % great extent q matter Of
conjecture whether the seas beyond these
regions arc one vast field Of pack ice. or
ma most Arctic voyagors believe an open ocean as
free for navigation the South Atlantic itself The
experience Of Capt Hall would especially tend 20
confirm this view-but he not enabled ~ go far
enough TO set At rest the problem Of whether the
coast If Greenland itself sill not prevent any navi-
CATION north of about the S0th degreo-whether in
fact smiths Sound viii not turn out tO be csl 10
sac. he all this il may, the expedition will follow
tho track of Davis and Of Bain, aud later STILL Of
Dr. Kane and Cant. Hall. aud keep as pos
sible to the coast line. Several past expeditions
lave pointed to the dcsrability OF making every
provision for escape in the event OF accident or
snSchauce or Of discovery in cAso Of requir-
ing help. Stern indeed are SOME OF the les
cons which have been taught by past expert
once in this respect. Every provision has
accordingly been made in the new expedition 10
guard against these great and much-droalod dan
gers. The expedition will move northward, leaving
as its base tho Danish settlements in Greenland. which
arc ocssible SIX months in the year 1t viii then
follow the COast Of Greenland it Is known to oXist
from tho Goth up to beyond the oOth parallel
of latitude Hcrc, further north, should it he
found conyonelt the Alert, tie principal ship viii
lie left to answer tie double purpose Of inter
mediate depot raying point in cAse OF need and
the Discovery will proceed as far north rs she can
In inf uavs of a WI ch
as her namo implies. is assigned " heI. Tie remain
der of the journey will have 10 be performed
on sIodgcs and on foot This Arrangement of the
ships is extremely adv antag oOus. The position Oi
tho Alert will provide place OF assured safety,
within about 800 miles Of tho Pole ITSELF and even
Ga case OF any msohance to Che Discovery. past
peTienco amply shows that that distance can 10
covered by sedgo travelling With comparative ease
In addition 10 these precautions il Is proposed 70 send
third ship, the VaIorous steam fr1gate to accom-
pany the expedition ships as far as Disco Island. aid
there to fiji! up tho gap that will be made il the
stores in The voyage from Portsmouth 10 tAat point.
The expedition before stated. will DO under the
command Of Capt. George 5. Mares, who called
home from Hong Kong. where ho board of
The Challenger her voyage Of scientific discovery.
Capt Mares has been in command of that ship since
she left British shores and. had no other reputa-
ton beyond that which hc has made with tlat expo
di;iOn, he would be pointed out a. q man elnnently
fitted for the present postal all events from
tifc point Of visw. This. however, is not all Capt.
Mares has had prcvicns Arctic experience. He was
mate on board tho ReSOlute under Capt Kollctt in
1921 and while out with that expodi tion dstin-
guished himself particularly by expeditions
elodgo travelling and wonderful faculty for anus
ing and instructing tho crews. Whether in the
strical performance or in lecture on the laws of
mechanics or indeed any branch Of physical science,
Capt. Mares was equally at home. La the Autumn Of
1852 he Travelled 1874 miles in d days. In the
Spring Of the following year. as auxiliary TO Lieut..