Report on the Danmark expedition to the north-east coast. 39 



After exploring the N. E. coast Mylius-Erichsen should then 

 seek to reach some point or other on the east or west coast, from which 

 he could return home. The various lines for the return were indicated 

 in detail in the plan, and the one chosen would depend naturally on 

 the course of circumstances. 



Early in February 1905 the 4 пал^а] officers mentioned gave 

 their answer, which contained among other things the following 

 passage: 



"We think it best, however, that the Expedition should retain 

 the ship during the first winter. In the first place, it is not excluded, 

 that in favourable ice years the ship might be able to penetrate just 

 as far north or perhaps even further than the 2nd German North Pole 

 Expedition reached with sledges, namely to ca. 77° N. lat. Further, 

 the crew of the ship would be of great use during the winter and the 

 following spring for the purpose of laying out depots, and they would 

 also be able to carry out investigations in the district round about 

 the winter quarters and make expeditions in support of the northern 

 party. Lastly, the retaining of the ship offers the simplest and quickest 

 mode of retreat". 



The view, that good ice years might permit the ship to reach up 

 to at least 77° N. lat. and possibly further north, was confirmed already 

 in the summer of 1905 by the Duke of Orleans and has later been 

 further confirmed by the Danmark Expedition. 



To keep the ship in Greenland, at least during the first winter, 

 was also in reality Mylius-Erichsen's own wish. It was only 

 consideration for the great expense connected ^vith the ship's re- 

 maining one or two winters on the Greenland coast, which had in- 

 fluenced Mylius-Erichsen to say in his first plan, that the vessel 

 should return home the same summer, after it had landed the Ex- 

 pedition. 



In addition to this, other scientists and explorers to whom he 

 showed the plan, were likewise of the opinion, that the Expedition 

 should retain the ship one or more winters. Mylius-Erichsen then 

 rearranged his scheme and in May 1905 sent out his new plan. In 

 this he resolved, that the vessel should remain at the coast during the 

 whole time, as he was now convinced that the money question should 

 not be allowed to interfere with the success of the expedition, Avhich 

 necessitated the retaining of the vessel. 



Among the many who assisted Mylius-Erichsen with expert 

 advice during the preparation of his plans, he himself names, in ad- 

 dition to the four naval officers referred to above: Vice- Admiral Wandel, 

 Dr. phil. K. J. V. Steenstrup, Professor Eugen Warming, Professor 

 Hektor Jungersen, Captains of the navy Hovgaard and R. Hammer, 

 Captain of the army Daniel Bruun, Director Adam Paulsen, Ship- 

 master H. V. Bang and the scientists Magister N. Hartz, Magister 



