The record-union., 1897-01-25
NEW ROUTE TO THE POLE.
Under the Ice to the North Pole in a
Submarine Vessel.

The sudden impetus that has been
given to Arctic explorations through the
remarkable achievements of Peary and
Nansen, seems likely not only to carry
this form of research, for some time at
least, on the flood, but to call out the
energies of work in a manner and to an
extent that have not heretofore been
known.
Ten years ago any plan Of attaining
the pole by means of a balloon sailing
from latitude not higher than that of
Spitzbergen, would have been secuted
as the visionary illumination of one
hardly better than a maniac; to-day,
the plan of Andree, however wise or
unwise it may appear, however unmeri-
torius it may seem to those who are
perhaps best acquainted with Arctic
conditions and possibilities, receives at
least respectful consideration. More
than this, it has received Government or
royal support. The year to come is
likely to put to test the possibilities of
Polar aeronautics. Following closely
upon the Andree aberration-for in its
radical departure from past methods it
can be properly so called-comesn now the
plan of NJ. PeSce, a French engineer to
reach the pole by means of submarine
vessel. This astute semi scientist as
SertS that various models of immersion
vessels have demonstrated the fact that
good conditions of navigation are found
at depth of at least - to 80 meters go
to 100 feet), and that habitation at this
depth, so far aA length Of time is con-
cerned, is merely matter of depending
upon the size and form of construction
of the boat The two main objections
that might appear to this form of explo-
ration, as stated by NJ. Pesce, are the
difficulty of ORIGINATING the vessel and
the invisibility through the regions of
"watery darkness" The former, it is
claimed, is hardly a true difficulty, as
the proper direction of the vessel could
be readily determined by the compass !;
but Mr.. PeSce does not inform US just
how the magnetic variations would be
co-relate with position, when the po-
sition, either terrestrial or solar, itself
remains unknown. AS regards the sec
ond difficulty-of not seeing just where
you are going-it might be overcome by
the proper use of electric illuminants,
either now in use or to be contrived.
The plan of operations, however, does
not contemplate a continuous passage
beneath the surface of the waters, but a
passage OF this kind only in such places
as are densely charged with ice; in other
words, it means surface sailing where
it is at all practicable, and "ducking'
under where the surface is clogged with
pack-ice and drifts. The conception is
as novel as it is picturesque, and yet 1T
may not be possible to say just where
any really insurmountable obstacles to
the scheme are to be found. Naturally
long traverse between an ice-pack a
hundred miles or more in extent, Is
neither pleasant contemplation nor an
enviable situation, but It is perhaps not
very much worse than being buffeted
about in a balloon in an adverse or con-
trary wind. 1t is NJ. Pesce's conception
to supply his boat with balloon appara-
tus, and also to discharge at regular in
tervals small pilot balloons from which
the world is to derive its information re-
garding the progress of the exploration.