New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-21
NAVIGATING ARCTIC SEAS.

Whether or not the proposition to send nus
sia's Baltic fleet TO the Pacific by way OIL tLle
Arctic Ocean is seriously entertained AT SL
petersburg. It is certainly provoking wide COM
mani That fact alone is more or less con-
domination OF the scheme The very discussion
iwrlies a recognition OF its perilous ana auua-
ions character. No such sensation would be
creafed BY an announcement that the same YES
soils would be dispatched to the same destna-
lion through the Mediterranean, Suez Canal ana
Indian Ocean. Whatever may be the consid-
erations Of policy that have suggested the ldea'
therefore every sane and intelligent person
must perceive its dangers. Wise men may Wen
diffor rs 10 the precise degree Of risk, but they
cannot be blind 10 the risk itself
Few persons are so well qualified to Judge OF
tho feasibility Of this project as Admiral Mel
Vile He was Il member Of the company which
wont IN into the Arctic regions through Behr-
ing Strait on the Jeanette, and after their
shin went down he spent many weary months
on shore near the mouth OF the Lena Well
with the right combination OF circumstances
a good season. an adequate coal supply, the aid
of powerful ice breaker and Sd on-Admiral
Melville thinks It possible that the fleet might
get through He IS careful not 10 say that sue
cess IS probable, even with everything IN favor
OF the attempt: and he adds that II the season
were not an open one ii would be necessary 20
winter at some point on the Siberian coast
which is not exactly rapid transit. Greedy and
Peary are even more scepucaL In fact. the ma
jority OF Americans who have had practical ex-
perlence IN Arctic navigation look upon the
venture as foOlh8rdy.
Dr. Cook IS an exception 10 the rule. lie IS
trife more sanCuine than the other authorities
Just quoted. and no cites in support Of his be-
lief the fact that Norienskjold, with tho Vega,
made the voyage from the Atlantic 10 the Pa
cifc without serious harm. The precedent IS not
4 happy one, however, because the Vega was
obliged 10 spend a winter in Arctic seas and
took over a year TO complete the voyage. Again.
one must Offset against that instance tho sink
ing OF the Jeanette. Nau-cn's famous feat
does not throw much light on che prospect be
cause he committed the Fran 10 the control OF
drifting ice and she remained IN Il for over n
rear. still further. IL must be remembered that
both the Vega and the Fran were built so rs 10
Withstand pressure from the fee on their sides.
and had great powers Of resistance below the
water line. The modern warShlp g especially
weak there, ana would uuquestionably succumb
II she were once badly pinched. Even Achilles
had his vulnerable spot.
Practically all the calculations made BY out
siders concerning the chance OF success in this
enterprise arc based upon the supposition that
the Russian feet would he pilotcd by one or
more ice breakers. These are useful institu-
tions, but there is limit 10 their capacity. on
Lake Bailal for instance. they operate only I'm
summer 1t is safe 10 say that ut that season
the temperature conditions existing fifteen or
twenty degrees further north would be much
less auspicious. Still greater disadvantages
would result from another fact. in a harbor
Ike Cronstadt or upon a large sheet OF water
which is entirely frozen over. the ice IS station
airy. The width OF n channel which IS once cut
there is not likely 10 alter. On the other hand.
IN the Arctic Ocean the pack IS in almost con-
slant motion. 4 lead between two foes will
open &C ono moment and close ut another Ad-
Jacent cakes are forever grinding against ono
another, slowly and reentlesSly. under the influ-
ence OF the winds and marine currents. There
would be no certainty that the breadth Of IN
avenue opened 10y the pilot would be maintained
long enough TO insure the advance Of tho con-
voy, and there would be no guarantee OF i'm
munity after the gap narrowed. II the breaker
were not itself frozen in, the warships might all
be sunk 10y the crushing Of their huIls. Before
Russia tries this experiment she might asl,
some foreign Insurance company how much il
would ask 10 indemnify her in case Of loss The
reply would doubtless be instructive