The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-01-30

lC8 degrees of longitude-while the
distance across it exceeds by many
hundred miles that from the north
ernmost point Of North America to
the lsthmus Of Panama.
The survey of these remote regions
was but one of the many progressive
improvements for Russia initiated by
that luminous character, Peter the
Great. Planned in his last years,
this most extended of geographic sur
veys ever attempted was known as
I the Great Northern expedition; II
lasted II years, from 1925 to l742.
It's results gave fame to Bering, Mura-
vief, to the Laptiefs, to Prontschischef
and others. In later days they were
followed by Kotzebue, Wrangel, Anjou
and Sannikof
How Russia has persistently pursued
a maritime policy for the develop
| ment OF Siberian trade has been
| fully set forth by Gen. j. de SchOkal-
/ sky, Russian imperial navy, in vari.
Gus publications. Safe routes of nav.
| igation to and from the valleys OF
the Yenesei, of the Lena and of other
lesser rivers are absolutely essential
for the prosperity and development
of this habitable empire, which Is
half as large again as is the United
States. Siberia is no longerr coun-
try of convicts, but a land swarmng
with pioneers, a wondrous leaven
among its 100000 of inhabitants.
Routes via the Kara sea and around
the north end of Nova Zembia have
been tested, but neither has been
found same for commercial ships year
after year. 1t was then suggested that
satisfactory route could be found
by entering Bering strait. This would
enable Russia to obtain a Siberian out.
let, with Vladivostok as the main port,
to which would be shipped the prod
ucts of the vast region to the east OF
Cape Chelyuskin.
In the summer of 1912 two power
full ice-breakers, the Taimyr and the
Vaigatz, made safely a voyage via
Bering strait to and from the Lena.
SCdndings anu surveys were made en-
route, but ice conditions around Cape
Chelyuskin prevented the ships from
returning to Russia through the Kara
sea.
Early in July, 1913, the ice breakers
Valgatz and Taimyr left Vladivostok
to prosecute their surveys and to re-
new their efforts to round Cape Chel-
yuskin and return to st. Petersburg
through the Kara sea.
The expedition was under command |
of General Sergelef, imperial Russian
navy, who was incapacitated by a
stroke of apoplexy. Lieutenant VIII /
kitzky, imperial navy, succeeding TO |
the command, made running survey .
of the Asiatic coast from the Kolyma |
river, latitude 70 degrees north, longl /
tude $50 degrees east, to Cape Chel-
yuskin. 1t is the first time that this /
cape has been visited by ship com
ing from the eastward Wilkitzky's
hopes of completing the circumnavi-
cation Of Asia were destroyed in longi-
tude SO degrees east, where he found
an impenetrable barrier of solid
ice.
AS the sea was open to the north.
he decided to explore this unknown
area of the Siberian ocean. To his
he soon sighted high
peaks, the SUBMITS of a new land. In
latitude 81 degrees north, longitude
100 degrees east he landed, hoisted
the Russian imperial colors, took pos
session of the land in the name of the
czar and named it Nicholas Second
Land.
Wilkitzky followed the land north.
ward, finding it with continuing
lorthwesterly trenh In latitude 81
degrees north, longitude SO degrees
east, he found pack of solid Ice,
which forbade further progress,
hough the land reached as far as the
sye could see. Retracing his course,
he southern extremity of the new
and was found in latitude 79 de.
srees north, longitude 104 degrees /
ast, whence the coast took a trend {
o the northeast The land is thus I