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AMUNDSEN WINS
SUN POLE BKE
The Norwegian Explorer Tells of His
Antarctic Dash.
GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE TRIP
Captain Amundsen's Own Narrative of
His Attainment of the South
Pole December 14, 17,
1911.
(Dy Roald Amundsen. Copyright
1912, by The N. Y. Times Co. All
rights reserved.)
Hobart, Tasmania, March 8. At 2
a. m. on the 10th day of February,
1911, we commenced to work our way
toward the south, from that day to
the 11th of April, establishing three
depots, which In .all contained n
quantity of provisions of about 3,000
kilos, Including 1,100 kilos of seal
meat, were cached In 80 degrees, 700
kilos in 8i degrees and 800 kilos In 82
degrees south latitude.
As no land marks wero to be seen
these depots were marked with flags,
seven kilometers on each side In the
easterly and westerly direction's.
The ground and the state of the
barrier were of the best and special
ly well adapted to driving with dogs.
On February 15, we had thus travel
ed about 100 kilometers. The weight
of the sledges was 300 kilos, and the
number of dogs was six for each
sledge., The surface of the barrier
was smooth and fine with no sastrugl.
The crevices were very local and were
found dangerous In "only two places. "
For the rest long, smooth undla
tlons. The weather was excellent, calm
or a light breeze. The lowest tem
?jeraturo on these depot trips was
minus 45 celslua or centigrade, (49
Vegrees below zero, fahrenhelt.) On
the 4th of March, on our return from
the first trip beginning on the loth
of February, we found out that the
Fram. had already left us. With
pride and delight we heard that her
smart captain had succeeded in
sailing her furthest south and
there hoisting the colors of his coun
try, a glorious moment, for him and
his comrades, the furthest north and
the furthest south, good old Fram
the highest south latitude attained
was 78 degrees 41 minutes.
Winter on the Ice Barrier.
Before the arrival of winter wo
had 6,000 kilos of seal meat in the
depots, enough for ourselves and
110 dogs. Eight dog houses, a com
bination of tents and snow huts
were built.
Having cared for the dogB the turn
came to use our solid little hut. It
was almost entirely covered with
snow by the middle of April. First
we had to get light and air. The
Lux lamp, which had a power 200
standard candles, gave us a bril
liant light and kept the temperature
up to 20 degrees celslus (G8 degrees
Fahrenheit) throughout the winter,
our excellent ventilation system gave
us all the air wo wanted.
In direct communication with the
hut and dog houses on the Barrier
weVe workshops, packing, rooms, cel
lars for provisions, coal, wood and
oil, a plain bath, a steam bath, and
observatory. Thus we had everything
within doors If the weather should
be too cold and stormy.
The sun left us on tho 22nd of
April and did not return until four
months later. The winter was spent
In changing our whole outfit, which
on tho depot trips was found to be
too clumsy and solid for the smooth
surface of the Barrier. Besides this,
as much scientific work as1 possible
was done, and some astonishing
meteorological observations were
taken.
Open Water all Winter.
There was very little snow, and
there was open water close by
throughout the winter. For the same
reason higher temperature had been
expected, but it remained very low.
In five months there were observed
temperatures between minus 50 and
CO degrees celslus, (58 and 7G de
grees below zero Fahrenheit) tho
lowest temperature on the 13th of
August, being minus 59 degrees
celslus. It. was then calm. On tho
1st of August tho temperature was
minus 58 degrees Celsius, and 'there
were six meters of wind.
The mean temperature for the year
was minus 2G degrees celslus. (14.8
below zero fahrenhelt.)
I had expected hurricane after hur
ricane, but I observed only two mode
rate seorms and many, excellent
auroras, in all directions.
Tho sanitary conditions were of the
best all tho winter and when tho sun
returned on the 24th of August he
met tho men sound In mind and body
ready to set 'about tho task that had
to be solved.
Already the day before wo had
brought our sledges to the stnrtlng
place for our march toward the south.
Only In the beginning of September
did the temperature rise to such an
extent that there was any question of
getting out.
First Start for the Pole.
On tho 8th of September eight men,
with seven sledges, ninety dogs and
provisions for four months started.
Tho ground was perfect. Tho tem
perature was not bad. The next day
It appeared that wo had started too
early, aa the temperature of the fol
lowing days fell and was kept steady
between minus 50 and CO celslus (58
degrees and 76 degrees) bolow zero
fahrenhelt. Personally we did not
suffer at all from this cold. Our good
furs protected us. But with our dogs
It was a different matter. It could
enslly be seen that they shrunk from
day to day, and wo understood pretty
soon that they could not stand tho
long run lo our depot at 80 degrees
south.
We agreed on returning and to wait
for tho arrival of spring. Tho provis
ions wero cached and off wo went for
the hut. With the exception of the
loss of a few dogs and a couple of
frozen heels everything was all right.
Only in the middle of October spring
came la earnest. Seals and birds ap
peared. Tho temperature was steady
between 20 and 30 celslus (C8 degrees
and 86 degrees fahrenhelt).
Tho orlginnl plan that all of us
Bhould go toward tho south had been
changed. Five men had to do this
work, while the other three wore to
start for tho east and visit King Ed
ward VII land. This last mentioned
trip was not Included in our pro
gram, but owing to tho fact that tho
English had not renched It, at least
thl summer, as was their Intention,
we agreed that tho best thing to do
was also to make this trip.
On Ocober 20, tho southern party
started, fivo men, four sledges, fifty
two dogs, and provisions for four
months, everything in excellent
order.
The Journey to the Pole.
We had made up our minds to take
the first part of tho trip as early as
possible in order to give ourselves
and tho dogs a rational training, and
on the 23rd we made our depot In 80
degrees south. We went right ahead.
In spite of tho dense fog an error
of two to three kllomeeers happened
once in a while, but wo wero caught
by the flagmarks, and found these on
our way without dilllculty.
Having rested and fed the dogs on
all the seal meat they were able to
eat, wo started again on the 20th,
with tho temperature steadily between
minus 20 and 30 celslus (4 degrees
and 22 dgrees belowe zro, fahrenhelt).
From the start It was tho intention
not to drive more than 30 kilometers
a day, but it appeared that this was
too little for our strong, willing ani
mals. At 80 degrees south we began
to build snow cairns of a man's height,
in order to have marks on our re
turn trip. On the 31st wo reached
the depot at 81 degrees, and stopped
there one day and fed the dogs on as
much pemmlcan as they wanted.
We reached the depot at 82 degrees
on the 5th of November, where tho
dogs for tho last time got all they
wanted to eat. On the 8th, southward
again, with a daily march of50 kilo
meters. In order to light our heavy sledges
we established depots at each degree
of south latitude.
Like a Pleasure Trip.
The trip from 82 to 85 degrees be
came a pleasure trip, excellent ground,
fine sledging, and an even tempera
ture. Everything went like a dance.
On the 9th, we sighted South Vic
toria land and the continuation of the
mountain runge which Sir Ernest
Shackelton mentioned In his chart as
running toward the southeast from
the Beardmore glacier, and on the
same day we reached 83 degrees and
established here depot No. 4. On tho
11th wo made an Interesting discovery
that the Ross barrier terminated in
a bight toward the southeast at 8G
degrees south latitude and 1G3 degrees
west longitude, formed between tho
southeast mountain range running
from South Victoria land and a rango
on the opposite side running in n
southwesterly direction, probably a
continuation of King Edward VII
land.
On the 13th we reached 84 degrees
where we established a depot, on tho
lGth wo were at 85 degrees, where
also, we made a depot.
From our winter quarters, "Fram
helm," 78 degrees 38 minutes south
latitude, we had been marching due
south. On the 17th of November, at
85 degrees, we nrrlved at a place
where the land and barrier wero con
nected. This was done without any
great difficulty. Tho barrier hero
rises in undultatlons to about 300
feet. Some few big crevices indicated
the limited boundnry.
Here we made our head depot, tak
ing provisions for sixty days on
sledges, and leaving thirty days' pro
visions on tho spot.
The land under which wo lay and
which we had to attack looked quite
imposing. Tho nearest summits along
the barrier had a height from 2,000 to
10,000 feet but several others further
south were 15,000 feet or more.
Tho next day wo began the climb.
Tho first part of it was an easy task,
light stops and well filled mountain
sides. It did not take a long tlmo
for our willing dogs worked their way
up. Further up, wo met with some,
small but very steep glaciers. Here
wo had to harness twenty dogs to
each sledge and take tho four sledges
in two turns. In some places it was
so steep that it was dIHlcult enough
to uso our skis.
Some big crevices forced us from
time to time to make detours. Tho
first day wo climbed 2,000 feet, tho
next day mostly up some small glac
iers, camping at a height of 4,500 feet.
The third day wo were obliged to
go down on a mighty glacier, "Axel
Helberg's Glncler," which divided the
coast mountains and the mountains
further south.
The next day began tho longest part
of our climb. Many detours had to
bo made In order to nvoid broad
cracks and crevices. These wore ap
parently taostly filled up, as tho
glaciers In all probability had long
ago stopped moving, but wo had to bo
very careful, never knowing for cer
tain how thick was tho lawer that
covered thorn.
Our camp that night lay In very
picturesque surroundings nt a hclghth
of 5,000 foot. Tho glacier hero was
narrowed In between tho two 15,000
feet high moimtnlns, tho "Frldtjof
Nansen" and the "Don Pedro Chrlsto
pherson." From tho bottom of tho
glacier rose mount "Olo Englstad"
a big snow cono 13,500 foot high.
Tho glacier was very much broken
In this comparatively narrow pass.
Tho mighty crevices seemed to stop
us from going further, but it was not
so serious as it appeared. Our dogs,
which up to this tlmo had covered a
distanco of about 7,000 kilometers, tho
last few days very hard work, ran
this day 35 kilometers, tho ascent be
ing 5,600 feet, an almost incredible
record.
It took us only four days from the
barrier to get up on tho vast Inland
plateuw. Wo camped that night at a
height of 10.G00 feet. Hero wo had
to kill twonty-four of our brave com
panions and keep eighteen, six for
each of our threo sledges.
Wo stopped here four days on ac
count of bad weather. Tired of this
wo set out on the 28th of November.
On tho 2Cth in a furious blizzard and
in a dense snow drift absolutely noth
ing was to bo Eeen, but wo felt that
contrary to expectations wo wero go
ing fast down hill. Tho hypsometer
gave us a fall of 800 feet.
Tho next day was similar. The
weather cleared a llttlo at dinner
time and exposed to our view a mighty
mountain range to tho east, and not
far off, only for a moment, and then
It disappeared In the dense snow
drift. On tho 29th It calmed down
and tho sun shone, though It was not
the only pleasant surprise he gave.
In our course stretched a big glacier
running toward the south. At its
eastern end was tho mountain rango
going in a southeasterly direction. Of
the western part of it no view was to
be had, it being hidden in the dense
fog. At the foot of this glacier, the
"Devil's Glacier," a depot for six days
was established, at 86.21 degrees
south latitude. Tho hypsometor in
dicated 8,000 feet above sea level.
On November 30 wo began to climb
tho glaclor. Tho lower part of it was
very much broken and dangerous.
Moreovor, the snow bridges very often
burst. From our camp that night we
had a splendid view over the mountain
to the east. There was "Helmer Han
sen's Summit," tho most remarkable
of them all. It was 12,000 feet high
and covered with such broken glaciers
that In all probabilities no foothold
was to bo found. "Oscar Wistings,"
"Sverro Hassels," and "Olav Hjan
lands" mountains also lay here,
beautifully Illuminated in the rays of
the bright sun.
In the distance, and only alternate
ly to be viewed in tho fog, appeared
from tlmo to time "Mount Nielsen,"
with Its summits and peaks about
15,000 feet high.
We only saw tho nearest surround
ings. It took us three days to sur
mount the Devil's glacier, always in
misty weather.
On the 1st of December wo left
this broken glacier, with holos and
crevices without number, with its
height of 9,100 feet. Before us, look
ing In the mist and snowdrift, like a
frozen sea, appeared a light, sloping
ice plateau filled with small hum
mocks. Tho walk over this frozen sea was
nut pieusum. rno ground under us
was quite hollow, and It sounded as
though wo were walking on the bot
toms of empty barrels. As It was, a
man fell through, then a couple of
dogs. We could not'use our skis on
this polished ice. Sledges had tho
best of It.
The place got the name the "Devil's
Dancing Room." This part of our
march was tho most unpleasant. On
December G we got our greatest height,
according to the hypsometer and ane
roid 10,750 feet at. 87 degrees 40
minutes south.
On December 8 wo came out of tho
bad weather. Onco again the sun
smiled down on us. Onco again wc
could get an observation. Dead
reckoning and observation wore ex
actly alike, 88 degrees, 88 minutes,
1G.G seconds south.
Bofoi;o us lay an absolutely plain
plateau, only hero and there marked
with a tiny sastrugl.
In tho afternoon wo passed 88 de
grees 23 minutes. (Shackoleon's fur
therest south was 88 xlegrees, 23
minutes.) Wo camped and establish
ed our last depot, depot No. 10. From
80 degrees 25 minutes tho plateau be
gan to slope down very gently and
smoothly toward tho other side.
On tho 9th of December we reached
88 degrees 39 minutes, on December
10, 88 degrees 5G minutes, December
11, 89 degrees 15 minutes, December
12, 89 degrees 30 minutes, December
13, 89 degrees 45 minutes.
Up to this tlmo tho observations
and dead reckoning agreed remarkably
well, and we made out that wo ought
to bo at tho polo on December 14 In
the afternoon.
That day was a beautiful one, a
light breeze from southeast, the tem
perature minus 23 celslus (9.4 degrees
bolow zero, fahrenhelt), and the
ground and sledging wore perfect.
The day went along as usual, and
at 3 p. m. we mado a halt.
According to our reckoning wo had
reached our destination. AH of us gath
ered around the colors, a beautiful silk
Hag, all hands taking hold of it
and planting It.
Tho vast plateau on whljh tho pole
Is standing got tho namo of tho "King
Haakon VII Plateau." n Js a vast
plain, alike In all directions, milo after
mile during tho night we circled
around the camp.
In tho fine weather wo spent tho
following day taking a series of ob
servations from 6 a. m. to 7 p. m.
Tho result gavo us 89 dogrces 55
minutes.
In order to observe tho polo as closo
ns possible we traveled as near south
as posslblo, the remaining 9 kilo
meters. On December 16 thoro wo camped.
It was an excellent opportunity.
There was a brllllano sun. Four of
us took observations ovory hour of
tho day's twenty-four hours. Tho
exact result will bo tho matter of a
professional private report.
This much Ib certain, that we ob
served tho polo as closo as It Is In
human power to do it with tho Instru
ments we hnd, a soxtant and artificial
horizon.
On December 17 everything was In
order on tho spot.
We fastened to tho ground a llttlo
tent wo had brought along, a Norwe
gian flag and tho Fram pendant on
the top of It.
Tho Norwegian homo at tho South
polo was called "Polhelm."
Tho distance from our 'winter quar
ters to tho pole was about 1,400 kilo
meters. The nverago march a day
was 25 kilometers.
We started on tho return trip on
tho 17th of December. Unusually
favorable weather mado our way
homo considerably easier than tho
journey to tho pole. Wo nrrlved at
our winter quarters, "Framholm" on
the 25th of January, 1912, with two
sledges and 11 dogs, all well.
The dally averago speed on tho re
turn trip wns 36 kilomotors, tho low
est temperature was minus 31 celslus,
(23.8 degrees below zoro Fahrenheit.)
Tho highest minus 5 celslus, (23 do
grces above zero Fnhronholt).
( Among the results are tho determi
nation of tho extent ind character
of the Ross Barrier, and tho dis
covery of the connection of South
Victoria land and probably King Ed
ward VII Innd, with their continua
tion in the mighty mountains running
toward the southeast which wore ob
served as far as 88 degrees south,
but which in all probability continue
across tho antarctic continent.
Tho entire length of tho nowly dis
covered mountains is about S50 kilo
meters. They have been named
"Queen Maud's Rango."
Tho expedition to King Edwnrd VII
land under tho command of Lieut.
Prestud has given excollent results.
Scott's discoveries have been con
firmed, and tho survey of the bay of
Whales and of tho Banior Dome by
the Prestud party are of great Inter
est. A good geological collection from
King Edward VII and South Victoria
land is being brought home.
Tho Fram arrived at tho Bay of
Whales on tho ninth of January. Sho
had been delayed by tho "roaring
forties" on account of tho easterly
winds.
On Jnnuary lGth tho Japanese ex
pedition arrived at tho Bay of
Whales and landed on tho Barrier
near our winter quarters. Wo left
the Bay of Whales on January 30th.
It was a long voyage with contrary
winds. All are well.
RAOLD AMUNDSEN.
A Full Line.
Mnrch Is busy showing weather
With much glee.
Hns arranged tho styles together,
As you see.
Snow In winter, hent In summor,
Rain in fall.
March has samples, like n drmumor,
Of them all.
On the Firing Line.
"Son, I hear you havo Joined tho
boy scout movement."
"Yes, dad."
"Well, s'pose you scout ahead now
nnd see what sort of humor your
mother 1b In."
Belnn Pressed.
"I like to examine tho dictionary i
during spare moments. You find
many unexpected things In It."
"Yes; I've noticed that. I somo
times find queer-looking fcmlnino ap
parel in ours."
Great Progress.
"Developed your gold mine any as
yet?"
"Yes, Indeed. I stnrted with desk
room, and now I havo a lino suite of
olllces."
There are no blizzards In thn
Yukon Valley In winter, and thoro is
llttlo wind. Snow about two feet
deep covers everything from early
October till spring.
The Political Situation.
Are tho times uplifting?
Hero wo go.
Whither are wo drifting?
1 dunno.
This Slim Craze.
"HIpB and curvoB havo had to go."
"Yes; modem woman Is almost
back to the orlginnl rib."
All of Borlln'o sowago 1b pumped
out of tho city to disposal farms
which have a total area of about 40,
000 acres.
Paris bakerB havo formed a syn
dicate to malntnin a laboratory in
which all their Hour Is scientifically
tested.
An Educated Bird.
"Polly want a cracker?"
"Naw; glmmo (wo cards."
Poking, tho only capital in tho
world without a street car Bystem,
soon Ib to havo an ol"trp line.
Tho cost of Italy's Tripoli fxp"Il
tion Ib estimated at $2,500,000 a day,
FORGET OLD DMS
Must Taft and Roosevelt if They
Do Kind of Fighting That's
in Them.
LIKE DAMON AND PYTHIAS
flea of Affection Broken by Colonel's
Candidacy Not Equalled by Any
Who Have Served for Friend
ship's Comparison.
By GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington. "If William 11. Taft
and Theodore Roosevelt are to do tho
kind of fighting for tho next threo
months that It is in them to do they
must keep their mlndB off tho old
days." It was tho politician-legislator
who has known both men lntlmatoly
from tho day when thoy began their
Washington life, who said this.
President Toft did not bollovo until
six o'clock Sunday, February 26, that
Theodore Roosevelt waB to declnro
himself, oven In otlect, an nctlvo can
didate for tho nomination. Ho hung
on nftor other men had lot go tholr
hold to a faith that something in
friendship would keep tho colonel
from saying tho dofinito word which
would put him Into tho Hold ns a rival
of tho man who as secretary of war
sustnlncd him In cxecutivo endeavor.
Mr. Roosevelt's friends Bay that Mr.
Taft broko tho bonds or friendship
whon ho departed threo years ago
from tho promised path. Tho blamo is
thrown ono way by somo men and nn
othor way by others, but wherever it
belongs tho friendship seemingly fins
gono, though It may bo, as Mr. Taft
Is reported to havo said recently to
ono of his friends, that ono dny nrtor
tho troublos tlmo when retirement
comes, It will return.
Damon nnd Pythias, David and Jo
nathan, Aeneas and Fldus Achates
and all tho rest who havo Borved bo
faithfully for friendship's compari
sons muBt pass whon tho onco exist
ing affection of Theodore Roosevelt
nnd William H. Tnft for each other is
Considered.
The Ranking Officer.
Thoro is n Washington nowspaper
story to the effoct that tho society
editor of a local journal wont to tho
White House ono morning when Mr.
Roosovolt wns president to got somo
information on precedenco nnd whllo
there ho asked somo ono who tho
ranking ofilcor of tho cabinet was.
The president overheard tho question
and turning said; "Tho secretary of
war." So ho was to Theodore Roose
velt. Many things showing the affection
between Mr. Roosevelt nnd Mr. Taft
are brought to mind today by tho
breach between two men who onco
caino ns near to bolng ono bb human
circumstances would admit. Ono
night In December, 1907, two or three
months before Mr. Taft becamo an
announced candidate for tho nomina
tion, President Roosevelt, tnlklng to
somo friends In tho Whito Houbo, said
that tho country was calling certain
legislative pollclos "tho Roosevelt
policies." Then ho snld that ho did
not know whether thoy wero Rooso
volt policieB or Tnft policies. His un
certainty as to tho proper name was
duo, ho said, to tho fact that long be
fore ho hnd nny thought that ono day
ho might bo president of tho United
States ho was thinking nlong linos of
what ho considered to bo proper pub
lic policioB, and wondoring If over
they might bo given legislntlvo effect.
Whllo wondering ho found out that
another man was thinking .along tho
same linos nnd also wondering If his
thoughts might ono day take tho form
of legislation. Tho othor man, Mr.
Roosovolt said, wns William H. Taft.
As tho story camo from Mr. Rooso
volt, ho entered into n correspondence
with Mr. Taft, exchanged vlewB and
opinions and round thnt they wero
Identical. Roosevelt said that from
that dato until tho dny ho was speak
ing tho two had been close In counsel,,
In friendship and in endenvor.
8tory Pleased Taft.
It was only a fow weoks ago that
President Tnft wbb told this story of
tho words of tho man whom oven
thon it was expected might bo hiB
rival in tho 1912 Hold. Ho liked tho
story nnd said it was good to hoar It.
Before tho country know generally
that Mr. Roosevelt hoped that his
secretary of war could bo lnducod to
becomo a candidate for the presidency
a visitor nt tho Whito House asked
him what progressive Republicans
wero to do on election dny tho fol
lowing November provided tho party
insisted on nominating a reactionary.
Tho president said that ho hoped it
would not bo necessary for anybody
"to go fishing"; that if tho party
should nomijinto as ho hoped It would,
William II. Taft, it would havo a
progressive candidate and if ho was
elected tho country would havo a pro
gressiva prosidont. Then he added
that hlB associations with Mr. Tnft
and his closo friendship with him
mado him know Just how ho felt about
real progressiva legislation and Just
what ho would do to furthor Its causo
If over ho becamo president.
There are a fow Washington bollov
era of a story soraowhat widely told
that Mr. Roosovolt broko with Mr.
Taft before Inauguration day, 1909. It
Is pretty well known that tho prede
cessor watched with somo misgivings
tho successor's cabinet mnklng en
deavors, but It Ib to bo doubted if Mr.
Roosevelt said, ns ho Ib reported to
hnvo said, "A cabinet lllto mine does
not serm to bo good enough tor him
and it may bo that in a fow weeks
pollclos llko mlno will not bo good
enough for him."
Want a Third Fort.
Tho refusal of tho house of repre
sentatives to Incorporate In tho
fortification bill tho appropriation
of $150,000 for n Bite for a
const dofenso on Capo Henry was a
sharp disappointment to most of the
good Virginians In tho houso, to a
good many army officers nnd unques
tionably to tho ontlro population of
tho tido-wntor section of tho Old Do
minion. Fort Monroo today has tho safety of.
several American cities in its keop
lng. It is tho outpost defense of
Washington and Baltimore, nnd with
Fort Wool It Btnnds as a eontlnol
keeping wntch over Norfolk and Rich
mond. Tho nrmy men nnd tho Vir
ginians think that a third sentinel
should be posted, but congressmen
havo taken issue with thorn. Across
tho mingling wntors of Chcsapcako
bay and tho ocoan lies Capo Charles,
whoso rough coaBt Is visible on clear
days to tho gunners on Monroe's par
apets, but If what haB been said by
supposed exports Is truo, no projectllo
which tho big guns of tho fort can,
hurl over is likely to prove effective
ngainBt battleships steaming into tho
chnnnol closo undor tho Charles pro
montory to make tho run up tho wn
tors leading to tho capital.
Tho forts at Cape Henry southward
ncross tho entrnnco to tho Inland wn
tors, army men seem to think, would
nearly porfoct tho syatom of defense,
but tho proposal for a Capo Henry
fortification is only ono of several
plnns which hnvo been mado from
tlmo to timo to complete tho defenses
of tho harbor, bay and river.
Hints at Selfish Interest.
There wns a plan first to build a fort
on Capo Charles Itself, but later this
was changed in favor of n plan to
plant big guns on a half submerged
Island midway of tho entrnnco to tho
Chesapeake. This plan was consid
ered by congress sovornl years ago,
and there wero hints thnt somo selfish
interests wore connected with it, but
no ono over mndo a direct chargo, and
thoro nover was any proof advnncod
of what were but whispered Insinua
tions. It seems to bo the full bollef of
many army officers that ono day an ad
ditional fortification in tho vicinity
of tho Virginia capes will bo author
ized by congress. As things nro now
it is said that a foreign licet with a'
pilot deserving the namo on board
tho lending ship, could slip into tho
Chosapcnko under cover of a hazo
whllo tho shore artillerymen, no mat
ter how watchful, would know nothing
of the movomont until thoro waB no
tnrgot to fire at, but tho brond wakes
of tho invndlng vessels.
Fort Monroo is Bald to be a bul
wark of dofenso in itself, but it seems
oven to the layman that tho picture
drawn by somo of tho congressmen of
n capital laid wasto by the guns of
a foreign fleet, or by troopB which had
secured a landing back of tho present
fortlflcntioiiB, is drawn with a freo
hand guided by n freor imagination.
If vessels should succeed In getting by
Fort Monroo thoy would havo a hard
tlmo getting up tho Potomac river, for
below Washington tho Potomac's
channel is safe-guarded.
Make an Easy Target.
Pictures nlso havo boon drawn of
tho demolition of Richmond and Nor
folk by hostile guns. It would Becm
that tho Virginia capital and Its sea
port might bo ablo to rest In confi
dence that no foo can como up tho wa
ter to thoir troubling. Tho main ship
channel at tho mouth of tho James
Is within easy groat gun rango of tho
parapets of Fort Monroo, and the gun
ner who could not hit so fnlr and con
fronting n mark aa n battleship or a
cruiser at doublo tho distanco would
bo discredited after ono pushing of
tho electric button, and his plnco
would bo taken instnntly by a man
ablo to drivo every projectllo homo
for tho army Is not worthloss, thcro
are many such men in tho artillery
ranks.
If tho marksmen at Fort Monroo
should hnppen to fall In their gunning
thoro Is perhaps llttlo chanco that
tholr brother artlllorymen at Fort
Wood would fall in theirs, for tho on
omy that would attempt to force a
passage of tho James would almost
bruBh tho muzzles of tho smaller fort's
guns'. Artlllerymon havo occasional
chances to test their skill. A govern
ment tug tows red triangnlnr pyra
mids made of cloth stretched on n
framework of wood across tho Jlno of
firo, whllo tho mon at tho big rifles
peg away at tho targets drawn
through tho fire zono at a ton knot
gait. In order to mnko a hit it "Ib
not necessary "to hit," for if it Ib
found that tho shot has made Itself
"effectlvo" In spneo fore and aft of
tho target, not greater than that
which would havo been covered by tho
bnttleshlp, a hit Is credited. It seems
to bo a fair system of marking, and
is tho only ono used by tho land and
sea artillerymen of tho world when
firing at moving marks,
Hits at Commerce Court.
Ropresentatlvo Thotus Wllretta
SlmB of Tennessco is tho repre
sentative In congresB who intro
duced tho bill to abolish tho com
merce court. It probably will bo re
membered by most newspapor read
ers that tho commorco court disa
greed with n good many of tho find
ings of tho interstate commerce com
mission, and that tho Supremo court
stood by tho commission, In somo in
stances at any rnto, and ns a rosult
there ban been a good deal of agita
tion in favor of abolishing tho so
called tallroad court. This tribunal
was created in part by tho direct
recommendation of President Taft,
and thoro Beoras to bo llttlo likeli
hood at this session nt any rato that
any strong attempt will bo mado to
get a bill through congress which,
shall wlpo tho court out of existence,
