The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-17
FIALA TELLS HOW 10 REACH THE POLE No Text Books Teach Route to
 Frozen North SHIP MOST FEASIBLE PLAN Explorer Thinks Vessel Like Fran Should Be Pushed as Far North
 as Possible and Support
 eledge Party.
SHIP MOST FEASIBLE PLAN
BY ANTHONY FiAkA.

question, 'Tfew Can the North Pole Be ReachedT'
 In the field of polar exploration there are ne- text books. The explorer has nothing to go by save the records of those few venturesome spirits who have gone more or less blindly into the great danger gone of the north There Is no school of instruction save the vast float ing Ice fields of the Arctic ocean, To work out the grand strategy which shall result In the discovery of the north pole plan of attack must be based on actual experience in those ice fields far north of any land. Then, ripe with experience, thoroughly prepared with equipment for travel and unlimited resources, he can only hope for complete success if condi- tions happen to be propitious-in other words, 1t is now and will ever be largely matter of luck. If nature Is against the explorer in her sternest moods he will stand no chance of reaching the pole, no matter what may be his experience, his resources or his plan of attack. On the other hand, there Is no doubt in my mind that 1t Is quite within the range of possi- bility to strike temperature and condi- tions which will make the qL~, yet come within easy reach of the determined ex- plorer's grasp.
 As to the value of reaching the pole, no one will ask that question who has in him the spirit of achievement or any higher motive in life than simply the love of comfortable existence.
 The ice sheet around the pole Is in con- stant motion, influenced by the rotation of the earth, and by the winds that blow with awful force over the wastes of ice and snow. Masses of Ice meeting in pres sure break up in millions upon millions of fragments, forming great ridges at the point of contact. Sheets of ice crack and break and turn on end, and with every new motion of the fields new ridges are formed. .f
 The ice In the vicinity of land, pressing with incalculable force on the rock-bound coasts, Is splintered and broken and piled into high hills of ice fragments that with every pressure change their shape. Water lanes open and form in zigzagging lines with every release or change In the direc- tion of pressure.
 To cross these rugged fields to the pole very slow progress only is possib'a. and the problem narrows down to a question of subsistence.
 Must Be Able to Return.
 About 300 miles intervenes between the highest known land and the pole; but there Is no value in reaching the pole without being able to return. The total distance would roughly be 1000 miles, to be travelled from base of supplies, and food would have to be carried suffcic% to allow party to reach the pole and to re- turn.
 If party could average ten miles a day the march could be accomplished in 100 days.
 In the three months of March April and May the travel is best, as the low temperature then congeals the opening lanes of waters and at times a water lane that would be en obstacle to cross or get around, If frozen and running in the right direction. would make a good road to travel. It was on such lanes that the Duke of Abruzzi, who holds 1re rCc- ord north, made some of his best marches.
 In 100 days one man requires about 300 pounds of food, and a team of nine dogs 900 pounds Ca pound day for each dog), a total of 1900 pounds, not iNcuding weight of sleeping bags. camping equip ment, arms, instruments etc.. and for travel over the rough ice, to prevent breaking, the sledges should not weigh, loaded, over 600 pounds But ten miles a day has never been averaged, and food for a larger number of days would have to be allowed for.
 The method of provisioning an advanc- ing sledging column north has been by supporting parties. from whose sledges the food for men and dogs has been pro- vided for the entire column, the support ing parties returning in attachments to land, thus shortening the distance toward the pole for the last party to leave The few men who would form the last ad- vance use their dogs as food for dogs as the sledge loads are diminished.
 To me there seem to be two plans open for the conquest of the north pole. The most feasible would be to build ship to stand the pressure of the Arctic pack on the lines of Nansen's ship, the Fran, with engine power sufficient to drfSe her through the ice when necessary. From the printed descriptions, Lieutenant Peary's ship, the Roosevelt, is a proper type
 The ship would be driven and allowed to drift north, like Nansen's Fran, and when the vessel had reached high alti- tude the sledge party would leave in an attempt to reach the pole.
 The ship ought to be equipped with wireless telegraphy, so that her position could be telegraphed daily to the sledge party. and also a time signal sent every noon, so that the sledge party could be sure of their longitude. No message could De TeCelNeu Dy tHe Snlp from those III tne field, as the transmitter Is to heavy to carry. but 1t would not be necessary. Could Carry a Balloon. The ship could also carry captive bal loon and when the party were expected to return, on a calm day. it would be sent up to a considerable height as a signal mark Should the ship be missed the par to could shape their course for Greenland or Franz Josef Land. according to which they happened to be the nearer. During the two autumns and winters of our stay at Camp Abruzzi the prevalent southeasterly gales kept an open sea to the north and northwest of Rudolph isl- and from the height of the glacier we could often see water to the horizon. Hay Ing a strong ship 1t seems that there would be the place to force her north. It was north of Franz Josef Land that Nansens ship the Tram. reached her highest north point.
 The other plan is for a large party to be loaded at Cape Flora as base for fu- ture operations, the ship to return to civ ilization the same year. Houses would be erected at Cape Flora and workshops and observatories built, the party to winter there. The following spring the party would make sledge trip to Teplitz bay and return. simply for the purpose of training the men and animals for the future work. The men would be kept in the field as long as there was any oppor- tunity for sledge work and experience. The following years the march north should be made. But if conditions should be antagonistic the attempt would have