THE POLAR WAR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9593, 13 September 1909, Page 5

THE POLAR WAR.

DR COOK AND COMMANDER PEARY.

OKIGIN OF THE QUARREL,

United Press lAssocntion— ay uicctrtc Telegraph Copyright. LONDON, September 10. The "Morning Post," dealing with the rival claims tj the honour of being the first to reach the North Pole, comments on Commander Peary's remarkable rate of travel, which equals that of Dr Cook, and shows that during days of actual marching Peary covered sixteen miles daily. In the closing stages of the northward journey the distance covered was at the rate of thirty-five miles a day. This phenomenal rapidity, the "Post' thinks, suggests the possibility of Peary having miscalculated his position Dr Cook's partisans claim that Peary's figures confirm Cook's story. Captain Amundsen, the discoverer of thd North-west Passage, declares that Dr Cook is the most honest man he ever met. He justifies Cook for not risking his instruments and observations on the long and dangerous sledge tour from Etah to Upernivik.

Dr Cook's friends allege that the quarrel between him and Commander Peary began during the Polar expedition of 1901, through Peary monopolising comforts. Several explorers attach no importance to what the Eskimos say on one side or the other.

The question has also been raised, on the authority of Dr Cook's companion, Professor Parker, whether Cook ever ascended Mount M'Kinley, as claimed, in his expedition of 1903.

Received September 11, 5 20 p.m. COPENHAGEN, September 11.

Dr Cook had an enthusiastic farewell at Copenhagen, the shipping being beflagged. He sailed direct for New York. NEW YORK, September 11. Commander Peary telegraphed that he will prove that Dr Cook never reached the Pole. LONDOIs, September 11. "The Times" continues Commander Peary's record oi: his j lurney beyond 188 th parallel. They covered 20 miles in one day, the? dogs sometimes running. The ice was grinding in every direction. Tbe keen air was like frozen steel. A few miles from the pole there was scarcely any snow. They covered 40 mile in 12 hours, and then had a stop of 30 hours. With four Eskimos., at the Pole he planted flags. No special incident occurred in returning to Cape Colombia, where they returned almost lifeless with fatigue.