The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-03-20
Explorers Wage War Of Discovery 10
Gain Wealth OF The Arctic Area
Canada and Soviet Russia Quietv Annexing Northern
Lands With Rich Mineral Stores

MONTREAL, March 10. CUP
A grim and silent war, which has
already cost the lives of many
men, is being waged by Canada
and Soviet Russia for the posses
sion of a vast SnOw-cOvered en-
pire in the Arctic.
The prize is supremacy over
100000 square miles of land and
a mastery of secrets which may
revolutionize the future of the
world. The battle is being waged,
not by troops and guns. but by
groups of intrepid explorers and
scientists.
Until recently the Arctic was
regarded as a land of frozen
waste. Today it is known that
some of the so-called barren lands
are among the richest of the
world.
Oil, gold, silver. lead. zine, coal,
radium. great reserves OF hSa:;
game and timber. ar ebeing found
in increasing quantities. 1t has
been learned too. that in the Arc
tic are the solutions of many
weather problems which have 50
far baffled meteorologistS.
Many of the discoveries made
to date have been made on land
already in Canadian or Soviet
territory. But hitherto unknown
islands are now being found by
each country and quietly annexed.
Airplane bases, settlements and
methods of communication with
the outside world are being estab-
lished, for it is believed that the
nation which can control the Arc
tic may in time dominate the
worlds mineral supplies and mo-
nopolize highly important air
routes between Europe and the
far east.
STAIN BACKS MOVE
The battle for possession of the
Arctic was started five years ago
when Stain decreed that "the
Arctic must become Soviet Arc
tic" and ordained a five-year-
plan for the purpose.
Canada took up the challenge.
Since then both countries have
accomplished miracles in the vast
Arctic wastes. which hitherto had
been regarded as useless and I'M
inhabitable.
Russia's fve-year plan has Just
ended. and a report has been
issued showing what she has
achieved in the polar regions dur
ing the past few years. This is
what the Russians have done:
Sailed from the Arctic coast of
Russia. down through the Berin%
Straits and into Yladivostok in
one season - a feat never before
accomplished.
Covered $4,000 miles by sea,
10000 miles by land, and $4,000
miles by air.
Established towns on land
hitherto regarded as uninhabit-
able. One of these is lgarka, which
already has $4,000 inhabitants,
and holds the key to the Kara sea,
one of the most important areas
in the Arctic.
Increased by systematic migra-
ton the population of another key
position. the island of Novaya
Zemyla. and organized it on mill
tarv lines.
Mapped and plotted navigation
routes along the whole of Russia S
northern borders.
Established on Franz Josef
Land. the most northerly radio sta
ton in the world. 1t is powerful
enough to communicate with the
Antarctic.
Settled a permanent post on
Wrangel Island.
CANADA FINDS ORE
Canada's activities in the Arctic
have been less spectacular than
those of Russia, but just as sue
cessful.
Canada is not driving whole
populations into remote territories
but is concentrating on extending
her knowledge of the geography
of the Arctic. Year by year she is
increasing her hold.
The population of the 1,256,217
square miles of land of which