RIVAL EXPLORERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9592, 11 September 1909, Page 5

RIVAL EXPLORERS.

COMMANDER PEARY'S ACCUSATIONS.

DR COOK IN REPLY

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

Received September 10, 8.40 a.m

COPENHAGEN, September 9

Dr Cook states that he will not degrade himself by answering Commander Peary's allegations. His denial will not be forthcoming until the accusation is based on scientific data. He is willing himself to lay his observations before a council of scientists of all nations.

Esquimaux, Dr Cook says, are nomads, and not Peary's nor his property. He paid them tenfold what they asked.

NORTH POLE HANDED OVER.

Received September 10, 8.40 a.m. NEW YORK, September 9. Commander Peary, who has arrived at Labrador with his expedition on his return from the Arctic Regions, telsgraphed to President Taft as follows: "I have the honour to place the North Pole at your disposal." President Taft sent the following reply:— "Thpnks for your interesting and generous offt r. Do not know exacly what to do with it. I congratulate joj sincerely."

OLD RIGHTS ASSERTED.

Received September 10, 8,40 a.m, LONDON, Septebrfier 9. Home and Canadian papers are already claiming the North Pole under old boundary agreements.

THE POLAR WAR.

ECLIPSING ALL OTHER TOPICS IN AMERICA.

ACCUSATIONS AGAINST PEARY.

"A COLOSSAL FAKER "

Received September 10, 9.35 p.m. NEW YORK, September 10. The polar war is eclipsing all other topics in America, where the partisans of Peary and Cook are engaging in a campaign of vituperation, Mr Osborn. secretary of the Arctic Club, of America, threatens that when Commander Peary sets foot in New York to have affidavits of the facts published stamping Peary as the most colossal faker America ever produced. He alleges that he has affidavits proving that Peary opened Cook's trunk and read the observations, and furiher opened a letter addressed to Mrs Cook Received September 10, 9.35 p.m. COPENHAGEN, Septebmer 10. The Copenhagen University has conferred the degree of Doctor upon Dr Cook at a brilliant representative gathering, including the Crown Prince, other members of the Royal Family, Otto Sversdrup, of the Fram fami2, and Ministers Dr Cook stated that he intended to send for two Greenlanders, who were with him on his journey, in order that they may be examined by unbiassed judges, as to whether he reached the North Pole.