New-York tribune., 1899-04-06
ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Two events. announced almost simultaneous
~ within the last few days, have impaired
fresh interest 10 Antarctic research The Bel
gan expedition. which had been given mp as
lost by many people,. has just been heard from,
and il Is known that 1t has been the means Of
extending geographical knowledge in the South
ern Hemisphere appreclably. And in response
to an appeal which the president of the Royal
Geographical Society addressed four months
ago to his fellow Britons Llewellyn W. Long
staff has now pledged himself to give f25,0O0
for another venture of the same kind. The
society had already raised f15OoO for the pur-
pose and although fully 100000 more Is yet
needed no doubt Is entertained as to the prac-
ticabty of finding it.
The Belgian expedition sailed in the Belgica.
under the command Of Lieutenant De Gerlache.
in August. 1897. and it was reported from Cape
Horn on December 30 the same year. 1t had
been given ont that the vessels destination was
Cape Adair, Victoria Land. and that after put
ting her passengers and their provisions and
instruments ashore the ship would proceed to
some Australian port. give the world the news
and obtain fresh supplies. Her failure to reap
pear as intended last spring excited grave
fears AS to her safety. But DR.. Cook, an
American member of the Belgian party, has
lust telegraphed from Montevideo that he has
got as far back as that place and Is on his
way home although the Belgica has resumed
her work of exploration. He also says that
instead of going TO Victoria Land the party ex
plored Weddell Sea. Whether the change of
plan thus revealed was the result of accident
or design does not yet appear. But Weddel
Sea is to the southeastward of Cape Horn in
longitude 4O45 west from Greenwich, whereas
Victoria Land is almost halfway around the
globe The principal scientific facts mentioned
by DR. Cook in his brief telegram are that De
Gerlache found land not hitherto known and
that he saw volcanoes.
Almost n year after the Belgica left Ant
werp there sailed from England an expedition
for which Sir George Newnes had provided the
means and which bound for Victoria
Land, almost due south of Australia. This
party. led by Captain Borchgreeipk, Nor
wegian, and embarking in the steam whaler
Southern Cross. was not fitted out in way
that inspired the approval Of the Royal Geo
graphical Society And although Sir Clements
Markham who is at the head of that organ
ization. commended the generosity Of the pub
Usher Of "The Westminster Gazette" and eX-
tended his best wishes to Captain Borchgre-
wink he has not anticipated satisfactory results
from the undertaking. The Southern Cross
was reported at Hobart Town last December
and she evidently landed her passengers at Cape
Adair about February 1 Of this year. She
reached a New-Zealand port scarcely more than
n fortnight ago. Whatever deficiencies may
characterize the management and scientific
equipment Of Borchgrevlnk's expedition, there
fore. II is clear that he has at ieast secured
footing on the Antarctic continent. At the
present time his Is the second party actively
engaged in research near the South Pole.
There will now he sharp race between Ger
many and England for the distinction or tax
ing the next one there German enterprise has
eliminated in n pledge by the Government to
aid an expedition which will not sail until 1901,
and which will probably be commanded ny Dr.
Erich Won Drygalski Few details have been
decided upon I'm connection with the scheme
Rut the general fact Is now determined Mr.
Longstaffs subscription to the Royal Geograph-
ical Society fund at last insures the dispatch
OF n party under the special auspices of that
organization. II Is barely possible that 1t Will
he able to get away this summer. and if II
does all preparations must be completed inside
of three or four months. But owing to the
shortness of the time left for such premna-
ries. and possibly owing TO desire to await
results from Borchgrevink, II may be deemed
exncdent TO postpone the departure of the new
English expedition for another year.