Evening star., 1922-04-05
Wrangling Over Wrangel!

WrdnSllnS UVef WIduSel!
The somewhat irreverent observa-
tion might be made that as soon as
we stop scrapping about Yap we start
wrangling over Wrangel.
An Arctic explorer sailing under the
British flag has started something"
in official and newspaper circles by
stalking a claim, in the name of the
British Empire. to that bit OF rather
chilly real estate about 100 miles
northeast of Siberia known as Wran-
gel Island.
Considering the importance the
island seems suddenly to have ac-
ouired, it is perhaps strange, as one
editor observes. that it should have
gone all these years without an own
err But this the Philadelphia Pubilc
Ledger explains by pointing out that
since it has always been the same
color as Russia on the maps, every
body who ever gave the matter mo-
ment's thought (and very rev nave
lost much sleep over itl TOOK IL LOT
granted that Wransel islano was
part of Russias vast Siberian appa-
mage" and nobody thought or ASKING
questions" From. recent develop
ments, however, it looks to the Ledger
very much "as though Stefansson had
stolen a march on other empire
builders"
But the Boston Post IS of the opin-
ion that there are likely to be seri-
Gus doubts at Washington about the
validity of this claim that Stefansson
puts forth.
The basis of the American claim to
Wrangel Island is outlined thus by
the New York Herald:
Rather more than forty years ago,
during the search for the l!-fat"d
Jeanette, the revenue cutter
Ccrwin anchored off the shore of the
island and sent landing party
of the Jeanette. made landing
ard her officers made recon-
naissance of the coast. discovering
that Wrangel land was not a part OF
an arctic continent, but an island one
hundred miles ,rn or more more on nf ,o1b e
vessels filed claims upon the island
as a territory to be annexed TO the
Emitted States Lieut.. Berry OF tne
Rodgers left the American flag ny
ing from the cairn containing the
claim of annexation
however, is credited to the British by
the Indianapolis Star. but 1t THINKS
that both Britain and the Cnited
States have allowed any claims they
might have to, lapse through falllns
to occupy it continuously for hve ,
Charleston Is. c. News and courier
is in favor of claiming it, but 1t
strongly advises the State Depart
ment not to start any dispute over
ownership unless it is prepared TO
carry the fight through TO a coh'pie'e
"The only reason that Stefansson
was able to set up a British claim
was because nobody ever wanted the
place enough to claim 1t, ana the
Elmira Star-Gazette takes 1t as eIl-
dence that there is little left in the
world to annex when Britain takes
the trouble to raise its flag on a
dreary oblong of frozen land in the
Arctic ocean, near the ultimate nortn.
And while it is hard to understano
what the British want with the place
the Star-Gazette offers fairly ra,
nnIv tonsl ps sxpeaS, ppoiar BEARS" it says; there
is no native population to revolt.
WrangePs loyalty can never be
questioned. Those polar bears can
be depended on: ,,.,
While the United States can legiti-
mately dispute the British title, the
Springfield (Ohio) News inclines to
the oninion that more than likely
Wrangel Island will be attached to
the government of the Dominion OF
Canada" 1t most certainly VIII II
the toronto Star accurately reflects
canadian sentiment, for it declares
"Wrangel Island is now part OF the
Dominion of Canada" Stefansson did
NOT act on his own responsibility, but
as the head Of an expedit1on sent OUT
by the government OF Canada, lne
Canadian paper informs us, and while
tba washington government may, if
il desires, discuss the legality OF the
titla neyerthelesS-
ITS our island. We've got 1T. 1t
may not seem to be worth much to us
at present but it is worth more to US
than to anybody else. It's ours and
thinks it ought to be un-nailed, OF
taWa will discuss that with them so
long as typewriters continue to be
manufactured and until the last spruce
tree of our illimitable forests has
yielded up it's last sheet of paper"
with at least a small portion of this
Canadian philippic-that the island
doesn't seem to be worth much. "Ex-
perts in air strategy tell u.s. accord
ing to the Columbus (Ohto) Dispatch,
! "that possession of the island Is of
prime Importance as-an air base. We
need it, we are told. as a base of ap-
proach to the northern shores of ST.
berfa, in order to tap the rich fur
resources of the Siberian littoral,
reasons which the Dispatch comedies
are probably as good as any"
Gas for climate and productiveness
wrangel Island is not much" but the
San Antonio Light suggests that "if
the icemen in the United States get
too gay" we may need it. THE ice
may be bit too salt for domestic
use, but 1t will be great for the soda
fountains. So we think we will just
keep it."
Heat by Law.