Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-16
OFF FOR SOUTH POLE
Steamer Belgica, With Gerlache's
Party, Sails From Antwerp.
SALUfED BY 0. s. s San FRANCISCO
They Expect to Reach Graham's
Land Next December.
o B ECT OF EXPEDITION

| ANTWERP. August lG-The steamer
| Belgica, with the Gerlache antarctic expedi-
ton or board. sailed at 10 o'clock this
morning. Crowds of people assembled 10
DC farewell to the explorers, who were
heartily cheered as the Bolgica left port
1t is expected that the expedition win ar
| rive at Gfaham's Land early in December
The crew CT the Bclgica numbers twenty
one men. She has on board provisions for
| two years.
| Saiuted by United States Warshtu.
| LONDON, August 16.-A dispatch 10 the
Fan Mall Gazette from Antwerp says that
| the United States cruiser San Francisco
saiuted the departing Belgica.
gives the origin and objects expected to
be attained by Lieutenant Gerlache in his
| trip to the south pole:
Since the days of Cook and Kerguelen
| there nave not been faore than a dozen ex-
| peoitions directed toward the south pole
Wnere the attractions % peril ana death in
an degrees of suffering ard torture should
be quite as fascinating as those which have
drawn tie explorer TO the north pole.
The present Belgian expedition was
Planned and VIII be executed by a young
beiglan lieutenant of engineers. who is
scarcely thirty years of ase-Adrien dc
Eeriache Young de Gerlache also holds
commission as captain In the Belgian
naval reserve. When mere youth he had
aoqulleo great knowledge In navigation
| anu developed a passionate desire for ex-
plorauons, which circums- -ances until the
present time have not allowed him to ex-
ercise.
How the Expedition Was Formed.
He began publishing his ideas concerning
a south pole expedition about a year ago
through the Brussels press and in a num-
Der Of scientific pamphlets, and at last re-
quested that a public fund be started to
cefray the necessary expenses of an ex-
pedition. The sum asked for was x50.00,
put up 10 the present only $43. 400 has been
received; that no Ee,er did not prevent
tne young engineer from undertaking his
enterprise.
The journey by sea will be made I'm AN
ordinary wooden whaier, which will employ
sa1ls ordinarily, but which is 10 be propelled
ty steam when the winds are contrary.
when ice blocks the passage or when bet
ter speed is desired. The whaler in of aSs
tons burden, and has received the name of
Beigica She is strongly constructed, and
her most exposed parts are fortified with
an armor OF oak planks. Two steel spurs,
that may he manipulated by the whaler's
engine. are arranged to be operated from
her bow to cut a passage through the ice
Inere are also captive balloon on board,
from which observations will be made. a
very valuable cabinet of scientific instru-
ments, and dark room, where photo
graphic plates may be develoled. 1t is
Lieut.. de Gerlaches intention to take a
great quantity CT pictures representing
phenomena in the ice fields, that may be Of
an artistic as well of a scientific value
special attention will be paid to the study
currents.
The second in command of the expedi-
tion Is NJ. Lecointe, a lieutenant in the
Bcig1an army, who has just finished a term
or three years service in the French navy
Other members of Lieut. Gerlache's stafr
are NM. Amundsen and Meelaerts, naval
ofncers; Lieut.. Dance of the artillery. who
DIR. Racovitza, a Roumanian, who will
make botanical and geological studies and
NJ. Artosky, the well-known Polish scteu-
tist. who will conduct researches in meteor
ology and oceanography. Twenty-Five men
make up the Bolgica's crew
The South Pole Iunernry.
This is the general plan Of the Journey:
The Belgica. after leaving Antwerp, Au-
gust 1s will attempt to reach a point within
the antarctic circle by October 80 when
the summer season of that zone is full un-
der way. The vessel will touch at the Ca
naries, at Rio de Janeiro. and at La Plata.
final stop will be made at the Falkland
Islands. in the Straits of Magellan, in or
der to coal up for the final journey The
Belgica will then take her course toward
Graham's Land. and will penetrate the sea
OF George Nv as far as possible. When ice
iduu sndll undlly STOP all progress by
sea, the explorers will disembark. put on
skis. pack their sledges and continue their
journey south over the ice fields. At the
approach of the winter season-that liz, to-
ward March, 1S9S-the Belgica will sail for
Melbourne to reorganize her crew, IL nec-
essary, and to take In provisions and coal
She will then cruise in the south Pacific
until the following summer. when. i'm octo.
Der. 1Ss)S, sne will take her course toward
Victoria land The return voyage will be
made in 1899 by way of Australia, the In
clan ocean and the Suez canal.
Some Of the Problems to be Solved.
The list Of scientific problems which the
explorers on the Belgica will study for two
years is very long; 1t includes observations
and researches in oceanic photography, In
terrestrial magnetism. in atmospheric cleo
tricity. and in meteorology. 1t is a particu-
lar aim Of the voyage to find proof for
antarctic phenomena which hitherto have
rested solely on theory and hypothesis.
At the fourth international geographic
congress- held In London In July, 1885, IL
was resolved that the explorations of the
antarctic regions comprehend some OF the
NEST important geographical problems to
be solved" The Germans, and then the
English, were the first to respond to this
scientific dictum. The English geographers
soon after obtained the promise of a grant
Of two vessels and crews from the ad-
miralty. and a projected expedition re-
ceived great impetus from a conference
held in London July last, when before the
aseemblage OF colonial premiers Lord
Lothian declared that ''it is to be regretted
to-See certain lands and islands of the ant
arctic continent bear names which are not
English, when these lands and islands are
the hinterland Of Australia and South
Africa"
But popular support. 80 manifest IN the
encouragement OF Andree in Scandinavia
and OF de Geriache In Belgium. has not
shown itself In England or In Germany
and these expeditions are still in a state OF
preparation.
MUST NOT AID REBELs.
Ameee ~ Afghanistnn Issues Oraers
10 His Subjects.
sTlGI4A. August l6-The Ameer of Al
ghanistan has issued nrman forbidding
his subjects TO join the rebels who are now
In arms against the Indian government