New-York tribune., 1909-09-12
RIDICULE IN ENGLAND.
Laughter and Regret OUer Squabble
Bet7Ceen ErpIorerS.
[By French Cable to The Tribune ]

London Sept 1.-THE commonest English
comment on polar polemcs is that as soon as
Americans do something really great they spoil
it by getting into personal squabble and abus-
ing each other. There hearty admiration
for DR.. Cook and Commander Peary in turn
when they reported the success of their hazard
GUS and difficult conquest of nature in the high
est ATTITUDES. but Englishmen are now laughing
outright over the wrangle between the two ex-
plorers. precisely as they smiled over the naval
feuds arising out of the victory off Santiago
Americans residing abroad, instead of receiv-
ing congratulations from foreigners over the
heroic exploits of their countrymen are sub
jected TO good natured chaff over the bad man
ners of their heroes and the vagaries of news
paper partsanship in a matter requiring scien-
tiic investigation and impartial judgment
Dispatches from America state that English
opinion is wholly the side of Peary. and that
Cook is generally condemned as an imposter
This is sheer nonsense Commander Peary is
known here and liked by scientific men, while
DR.. Cook can only be taken at his own word
until his records are recovered and his proofs
submitted to experts of high authority. There
is. however unmistakable sympathy for DR.
Cook, the under dog and this is coupled
with regret that Peary, instead of reporting his
own exploits. attacked his rival in a savage way
and sought to prejudice the world against him
a wag remarks that while the pole has been
found without doubt by one American or an
other the first use of it has been to hang up
soiled linen on it in place of the flag. INF.
BY The Associated PressI
London, Sept 1.-THE Cook-Peary controversy
has for the moment practically been dropped from
the editorial columns Of the London newspapers
ana the only comment appearing this afternoon is
a paragraph in The Pail Mall Gazette which
says:
CoTomander Peary's story bears the impress of
unconvncing narrative Of his rival After readine
Pearys narrative; one can only feel that if Or,
Cook is really telling the truth honestly as com
manner Of telling it. - ''''
The claims and the counter claims of the rival
explorers. however, have prominence on the news
pages. and are discussed keenly wherever men and
women congregate. There is a general disposition
however, to await Dr. Cooks promised discIosura
judgment. ' ''i'
Berlin, Sept 1.-THE news that Comma rder
Peary also was unaccompaned by white observers
when he reached the geographical point which he
took 10 be the pole, has started the discussion
afresh regarding the claims Of Peary and Cool,
German Eeographers. such Gravelius HeIImann
Sieslin, Suering and Friedrichsen. have been dis
posed Throughout 70 believe the word Of both Cook
and Peary as they had no reason to doubt the sol
entihc competence sincerity Of either explorer.
The newspapers. which commenting freely
on the gIojsCL consider that Commander Pearv's
friends as we'll himself have shown too bitter a
feeling toward pr. Cook. a feeling which they
say is neither sportsmanke. scientific nor ethical
Professor n. Singer. writing I'm the ''Norddeutsche
Allegemeine zetung." says that scientific circles
need not h deeply concerned whether one or the
other explorer took observations amid the field Of ice
which showed the Instruments TO be at the North
Pole, or which reached there first Scientists may
consider II settled that both men with unweared
zeal have attained their aim. more interesting
subject, he adds is that wide fields still exist for
polar explorers 70 register their work The Amer
leans have stoFned the pole and planted their flag
he concludes NOW. before the most is stilI 10
be DONE