The Washington times., 1909-09-11
Explorer Notifies Navy anu
State Departments That
Pole Is Ours.
is CONGRATULATED
BY THE OFFICIALS
Steamer Roosevelt Delayed at Bat
tie Harbor for Coaling
and Repairs.

Commander Robert E. Peary for
mally annexed the North Pole and
adjacent territory to the possessions
of the United States when he
planted the flag there on April G,
1909. He made this announcement
in a dispatch sent to the Navy De-
partment today, dated Battle Har-
Dor, via Cape Ray, as follows:
~seeretsry of the Navy, Washington,
ID. CT
I "RespectfuIly report my return.
HOisted navy ensign on North Pole
April 8. PEARY.Y
In response to Commander
Peary's message, Acting Secretary
of the Navy Winthrop sent the fol-
lowing:
Your teleEraphIe report received.
Navy Department extends hearty con-
gratulafiOns on yOur successful At
tempt TO reach the North Pole.
sWISTHROP,
"Acting Secretary,
The Department of State received
the following from Commander Pearv
at Battle Harbor, under date of Sep
tember 10, in which the explorer
states that he has taken full posses
sion Of the North Pole and all ada
cent territory in behalf Of the United
States. The dispatch is as follows:
sSeptember 10. 1909.
Hon. Secretary Of State, Washington.
ID. C..
''Respeetfully report hoisted star.
and stripes on North Pole and for
maily took possession that entire re-
gton and adjacent for and In name OF
President and United States America.
Record and United states flag left in
(new) possession. PEARY.-
In addition to sending the message
of congratulation to Commander
Peary, Acting Secretary Winthrop
said:
The Navy Department is natur-
ally very much gratified that Civil
Engineer Peary, an officer of the
Civil Engineer Corps of the navy,
has succeeded, after many attempts.
in reaching the Pole"
DUTY TO THE NAVY.
In response to a question as 10
whether Commander Peary, on his
return to Washington. would have
his detail TO the Coast and Geo
detic Survey extended long enough
to enable him to complete his final
report TO that survey on his ex-
ploratiOn, Secretary Winthrop an
swered that Peary would be given
all the time that was necessary.
Peary's status is that of a civil
engineer of the navy under tenn
porary detail to the Coast and
Geodeuc Survey for the purpose
of making surveys OF the coast
Of Greenland.
Navy Department officials were
both amused and surprised at the
language of Commander Peary's
dispatch to the department in
which he announced that he had
hoisted the navy ensign" on the
North Pele. There is no such
thing as navy ensign" in the
American navy. There is no flag
recognized in the American navy
except the Stars and Stripes-the
same flag which floats over the
White House and every army post
and public building in the coun-
try.
DISTINCTIVE FLAGS.
There are. OF course. distinctive hags
for admirals and rear admirals. There
are also yacht flags and pennants. An
ensign is a flag and is used in both the
British and Russian navies. but 1t has
no place in the navy of the "one flag,
one country" of the United States.
Commander Peary's ignorance Of this
fact created considerable comment in
naval circles here.
As to Peary's announcement TO the
state Department that he had taken
possession in the name of the Presi-
dent and of the United States OF
America of the North Pole and OF all
adjacent territory" Acting Secretary
OF State Adee declined to make any
Official response. Unonicially, however,
State Department officials declare that
according to all evidence at hand the
North Pole IS situated In the high seas