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is now occupied by fifteen people under command of Charles Wells, an
experienced hunter and trapper of the Far North. And The British ownership of
Wrangell Island has been made good by occupation so that if the question is
submitted to an international court, as recent despatches from Ottawa say is
being done, then we shall be certain of any the verdict rendered on the basis of the evidence.

Whether the British Empire decides to stand on its rights is a
wholly different matter. The United States has the next best claim and between
these nations any dispute can always be settled amicably on a legal basis. But
Russia seems to realize the value of Wrangell Island better than any other country
and is making protestations that are loud in proportion to the weakness of her
claim. Things often go without any other reason to those who want them most.
Then there is the possibility of internationalizing the island for the benefit
of all countries. But that, again, is a practical question which has nothing
to do with the spirit or value of the sacrifices made by Crawford, Galle, Knight
and Maurer