New-York tribune., 1903-11-27
SHIPS FOR POLAR RESEARCR.

The most interesting things in the recent
cable dispatch from Kiel about the German
Antarctic expedition are illusions to the future
of the ship which took out the party. The
achievements of DR.. Drygalsk and his COM
Danions were so fully reported from Cape
Town two or three months ago that they at
tract no attention now.
One suggestion in the dispatch referred to
is that Peary may buy the vessel for his own
use next year. Well, it is safe to say that he
will not do so unless he has the promise of
more money than is now at his disposal Per
haps he may not be entirely satisfied with the
ship, either. The Gauss was built, as was the
Discovery, in which the British expedition
went out, expressly for the service in which
it engaged, and both of them have demon
strated their ability to meet a part of Peary's
reouirements The stoutneSs of their hulls is
a great recommendation.
Whether they have engine power enough to
suit the daring and calculating American is
another matter. The Discovery will not be
released from her icy prison near Mount Ere
bus until the new year has advanced too far
TO permit her to be re1itted extensively before
July. The Gauss, being Immediately available,
could receive q fresh set of engines if her first
ones have not the necessary capacity. Hence.
the hint thrown out from Kiel is worth con-
sidering Inasmuch as Peary is now, or was
few days ago, in England, perhaps he may
run over to Germany before coming home, and
look into the matter, if he has not already dis
posed of it in his own mind
Peary's hope has been to find winter quarters
for his ship at some point on the north coast
of Grant Land, near the eighty-third parallel
Of latitude On several previous occasions he
could get no further by water than Cape
Sabine, about 800 miles to the southwark. 1t
then became necessary to transport his sup
plies, for men and dogs, over the inland ice
TO his winter depot. That task involved a
journey, or several journeys, along a difficult
route. When it was completed, the dogs were
not capable of performing the final service ex-
pected of them. II all of his supplies could be
taken by ship TO a point above Fort Conger,
the means of transportation upon which the
success of the last step in the programme de
pends would be in much better condition.
With the Windward Peary never could force
his way through the ice in Smith Sound and
Kennedy Channel The next ship he takes
should be able to overcome any resistance that
he is likely TO encounter. If the Gauss can
do it, he ought to have her. otherwise, not.
A second remark in that cable dispatch is
unpleasantly suggestive. 1t says that most OF
the DryGalski party have come home so full
of enthusiasm that they would like to make
another polar voyage. Very likely some of the
DIscovery's scientists will feel the same way
after returning to England. Inside Of another
year or two if Pelry does not start north next
summer, some one else probably will. Pos
sibly no other expedition will be fortunate
enough to have the best leadership in the
world Still It makes one uneasy to cOntem-
plate the chance that anybody but an Amer
ican is going TO win the glory TO which Peary
is so justly entitled.