New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
SCIENCE AND PATRIOTISM
John BULLS INTEREST IN THE ANT
ARCTIC CONTINENT.

CAPITALISTS TO FIT OUT PROPER EX-
roN-BoRcHGREvINKs NOT
ALL THAT COULD BE
I've world will await with great interest the
x.s,onse which the British people give TO the
..cent appeal Of Sir Clements Markham for
.na money needed for an Antarctic expedition
"a be conducted under the auspices of the
poval Geographical Society OF which Sir Glenn
sn,s is the president. For years this organi- |
,stion has been urging upon the British Gov
eminent the idea of undertaking such a scheme
&C a naval enterprise. But a few months ago
.~er much delay. Lord Salisbury replied that
IN the present situa ion of foreign affairs the
government was unwilling to spare either a
shin or the officers who would accompany such
an expedition, especially as both would doubt
loss set beyond the reach OF telegraph wire
.oon after sailing. The Royal Geographical So
cety is therefore. pursuing new tactics now
lis annual meeting held only last month
ard Antarctic exploration formed the chief topic
Of the presidential address
IS the readers OF Tie Tribune are we'll aware
TWO parties have left Europe within the last
ff,een or sixteen months for the purpose OF
s,udying geography and other sciences near
10 the South Pole as possible One Of them
aAlled ufiutI oViS'dH auspices III tHc SUMMER
If 1891. and when last heard from. about a
year ago IL had reached the Straits of Magel-
ian; but as It's commander Lieutenant Ger
lsche. had announced his intention after land
ing his party to send the ship to Melbourne for
supplies and she has failed to arrive at that
mort altogether. although she due last
april il is doubtful whether she ever carried
ont even the first part of her programme 1t
seems probable that the Belgca has been i'm
nrjsoned in Antarctic ice or has met still
more unhappy fate
tn. other expedition, fitted out at the ex-
n.nse Of Sir George Newnes, and including
several English and Swedish naturalists, left
England IN the steam whaler Southern Cross
last August and has just been reported from
TIE vicinity Of Australia on its way TO Cape
Aiair Victoria Land. Captain Borchgrevink,
Norwegian commands this vessel His gen
e-al plan as announced resembles that of Lieu
tenant C;erlache, and the next Information that
NAV be reasonably expected from, him. If all
gas we'll will be probably brought to some
Australian port next spring. when the Southern
Cfoss puts In for coal and food. preparatory 10
6 -e,urn 70 Victoria Land for her party.
Although expressing himself courteously In
,t-aid TO this latter venture. Sir Clements
Markham calls attention 10 the fact that it was
undertaken without consultation with either
The council or the Royal Geographical Society
o- other competent scientific authority. Evil
IDENTITY he expects little from an enterprise,
h,wecer laudabe in itself that was Initiated
uuder such auspices. lie does not claim that
ths distinguished organization over which he
has presided for years has any first mortgage
on ths Antarctic continent, but he seems TO feel
that the risks are so great in any work Of this
sort and the reputation Of Great Britain is so
lV-e6 hat no expelitiOu should start
cut from England that has not had the benefit
Q, the utmost wisdom Of experts in polar re-
search
Another circumstance that stimulates British
pride in this matter is that the Germans are
maturing plans for Antarctic exploration, and
before long will doubtless dispatch thoroughly
equipped expedition to the continent that sur
rounds the South Pole. 1t can hardly be made
ready mex: summer but that 1t will go year
later is row regarded as a practical certainty
The Germans will have the counsel Of the men
best qualified TO advise them, too. Sir Glenn
ents insists that Great Britain has been fore
most in exploration in all other fields hitherto.
and declares that If his fellow-countrymen hold
back now and let the Germans go alone their
credit as nation will be gone. I'VE must,
he says. "for the first time In our history, dis
gracefully take back place. Worst Of all. 1t
would not be from poverty OF means. but from
poverty Of patriotic feeling among those who
possessed the means" In view Of the political
and commercial rivalry between Great Britain
and Germany. this sort Of language ought TO
make deep impression.
The appeal Is especially addressed TO the
moneyed men OF England. Sir Clements laid
stress on the munifcence of his countrys mer
chant princes in the past in support OF explora~
ton. II due TO Master william sander
son. OF the Fishmongers' Company, that Davis
Strait was discovered. The patronage or other
rich merchants has resulted in similar achieve
ments. and their names have been perpetuated
In the titles borne by capes and bays along
newly explored shores In 1929 British dis
tiler, Felix Booth. equipped party under Sir
John Ross for the Invasion Of the region around
Hudson Bay The territory was called "Boothia
Felix" after him, and a gulf near by also bears
his name to-day. Finally the King created MI
Booth baronet. This last chapter OF history,
and the handsome backing which MT. harms
worth has recently given 10 Arctic research
80 10 prove that the patriotic adventures OF the
Elizabethan age and their patriotic patrons
have worthy successors in the nineteenth
century.
In behalf Of the Royal Society another as
tnctiyely scientific body. professor M'chaei
Foster heartily applauded the sentiments OF the
PRESIDENT Of the Royal Geographical society
II Is hard to conceive of more tactfui' urgent
and well-supported effort 10 enlist private cap
Na in scientific enterprise than the ne"
movement in England for Antarctic research'
and II 1t does not meet with success In the near
future, some time during the present winter
the outlook for d similar revival OF interest
within the next Ave or ten years VIII De poor
Indeed
A LUCKY JOKE.