New-York tribune., 1901-06-16
4 FRESH POLAR CAMPAIGN.

Mr. Baldwin. who sailed from this country
last week TO take command of polar expe-
dition. the cost of which is betrayed by Will
lam Ziegler, has been more reticent about his
plans than most explorers who embark on SINH
lar missions. Perhaps he is pro1iting by the ex-
perience Of Peary. The latter artlessy told the
world three years ago just how he proposed to
deposit food along what might eventually be his
line of retreat, and he described rather minutely
other preparations which he had made Then
to his dismay he discovered that Sverdrup was
TO follow him up the west coast of Greenland
and put himself in position where It might be
necessary TO take advantage of the facilities
created by the Yankee naval lieutenant. Where
upon Peary repented of his frankness.
Nevertheless. enough is known of Mr.. Bald
wins intentions and equipment to encourage
hopes of his success While he has not hitherto
been conspicuous in this kind of research he
has thrice before been I'm the arctic regions
once with Peary, once with Wellman and again
at the station from which poor Andree launched
his balloon. Moreover, the expedition is backed
by practically unlimited money. Mr.. Baldwin
will have not only magnificent Dundee whaler
at his disposal but two tenders also. He will
take with him 4 much greater number of dogs
than any other arctic explorer ever had and thus
will be provided with unprecedentedly ample
means OF transportation at the critical stage OF
his venture. And he seems 10 have secured
somewhat more condensed food than any Of his
predecessors. BY thus tightening his commits
sary supplies he makes II possible to carry more,
and hence To travel further with sledges
Mr.. Baldwin will approach the Pole from the
same general quarter as Nansen and the Duke
of the AbruzZi. Leaving Dundee in the American
early next week. he will meet the tender Frithjof
from ChrstanaI at TrOmsoe. the northern
coast OF Norway and then sail nOrtheastward
for Franz Josef Land. where winter quarters
will be established He will there he about as
far north Peary was last winter at Fort
Congcr-close TO the sd degree of latitude.
Mr. Baldwin does not mean To make his final
push for the Pole until the spring or summer
of 1892. and should that prove unsuccessful
he will probably remain in the arctic regions
a year or two longer. Meantime. the Belgica.
his second tender, will deposit food along the
east coast of Greenland, 10 provide for contin-
sencics that are likely to arise. Whether Mr..
Baldwin deliberately intends TO return from the
Pole by a route much further west than that
by which he advances thither, or simply fore
sees a possibility Of being carried westward by
the drift of the polar sea is not clear. But the
fact of his making preparations Of this kind
signifies careful thought on his part
If the condition Of the ice and weather at Fort
Conger has been sufficiently encouraging within
the last few weeks Peary has doubtless ere this
cut loose from that base q: operations and
started northward The result OF his attempt
cannot well be known in this country or Europe
before August or September. Whether he re-
turns I'm person to the United States or sends
back tidngs by the relief ship which is about
10 sail from St Johns, news from him can
hardly reach civilization until after Mr.. Baldwin
has left Tromsoe. But If the Frithjof be sent
south after landing her supplies IL will probably
be feasible for her TO make n second voyage to
Franz Josef Land before cold weather. Ger
tainly Mr. Baldwin would derive great inspira
tion during the coming winter and spring from
definite knowledge that Peary had not yet ac-
complished anything worth mentioning. On the
other hand If he learned before the close of
1901 that his fellow cOuntryman had forestalled
him. he might modify his programme. In any
case there is a fair prospect that an American
will beat the record of Nansen and the Duke OF
the AbruzZi inside of the next twelve or fifteen
months.