The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-07
BACK FROM. THE ANTARCTIC.
FAILURE or THE GERMAN PARTY
70 GET FAR SOUTH.
BAD Luck Of the Explorers on the Gauss
The Expedition One OF the Costliest
Ever Fitted Out for Polar Enterprise
Results l'ninportan 40 Far ~ Known

Ever Fitted Out for Polar Enterprise
Results l'ninportant 80 Far as Known
The sun printed last Sunday despatch
from Berlin saying that the German peo-
PIE were alarmed for the safety of their
Antarctic expedition on the exploring
steamer Gauss and that the Reichstag
had appropriated 3l25,0OO to send out a
relief expedition. On the following day q
despatch from South Africa said that the
expedition had emerged from the Antarctic
and the Gauss was making her way
westward along the African coast to Simon's
Town, near Cape Town.
The anxiety of the German people is
thus relieved, though they will be very
much disappointed II the report bo true
that the Gauss attained only CO. q south
latitude
1t may be interesting to trace briefly
the history OF this expedition On far as our
present information permits. When the
Gauss sailed southwark the money ex-
pended upon the enterprise amounted
nearly to SOC. 900, Of which the Reichstag
had voted $500 900 from the Imperial Treas
ury. Thus the expedition has been one Of
the costliest ever fitted out for Polar en-
terprise.
The Gauss sailed from Kiel on Aug. II,
1901. On Dec. she left Cape Town and on
Jan. ?, 1902 arrived at kerguelen, where
DR.. j. Enzensperger had preceded the
explorers on the supply steamer Tanglin,
which had on board all the material for
rearing the buildings on Kerguelsn and a
large part OF the supplies which the Gauss
was to take south.
The Tanglin had reached Kerguelen on
Nov. 10 and found desirable situation for
the camp in Observatory BAY only a short
distance from little fresh water lake
This was the station occupied by the British
Venus expedition during the Astronomical
observations OF 1874.
One advantage OF Kerguelen As the head
quarters OF the expedition was considered
to he the fact that communication with
Australia might be made two or three times
a year, In this respect Kerguelen, on the
threshold Of the Antarctic world. resembles
Littleton Island. near the entrance to Smith
Sound, in the Arctic; for vessels can reach
that island every year and bring home all
tine news OF exploratory work In the north
that has been sent back to the Smith Sound
region.
On Jan. 81 last year Drygalski and his
comrades on the Gauss left Kerguelen
Island for their journey Into the unknown.
Their first destination vas the supposed
land mass which Capt. Wilkes. the American
explorer. Jaw at a distance in 1910. There
ia little doubt that he discovered q new
coast line.
Termination Land, according to Wilkes
is the most eastern point Of coast line
almost or quite continuous which extends
between about 90 and 1907 east longitude
The coast stretches tor thu most part east
and west little south OF the South Polar
Circle.
II, As Wilkes supposed. this land Ia prac.
tically continuous coast line, II is likely
to be backed by largo extent OF land and
10 be a part Of the oonjectured Antarctic
Continent. II was the purpose Of the Gauss
II possible, 10 establlsh . station on Ter
mination Land and to completely solve the
mystery OF the % called Wilkes Land.
1t is now evident that the expedition
never reached ita goal. 1t was hoped to
attain without difficulty tho coast ~een
by Wilkes and to And haroor In Tern,ina-
ton Land that would be favorable ior
winter quarters.
DryRalski had planned an immense
amount OF work In that unknown region
His expedition was equipped for more
than two years and Il was distinctly under
stood that it would not be matter OF sur
prise IL nothing was heard from the ex-
petition Tor at least two years.
The despatch from Berlin last week said
the Germans feared that the expedition
was a failure. But there was then no
reason to conjecture that Drygalski had
failed, for his ship was one OF the stanchest
that ever pushed their way into the Ice
seas, and her command scientific stan
and crew we're men OF the fret quality In
their respective positions.
Even II the party had been brilliantly
successful, news Of their achievements
might not have been received until next
year Drygalski himself said that tidings
might not come from the Gauss until 1904;
but It was arranged with the Government
that if This party were not heard from by
this month relief party should he fitted
out,
The forebodings In Germany were due
entirely to the il-success Of the auxiliary
party that was left on Kerguelen Island.
The Berlin despatch said that q number
Of the men, including Dr. Enzensperger
the meteorologist In charge OF the station,
had persisted Of beribsri This Is the melan-
choly truth, - had been known for several
weeks. The station on kerguelen war
abandoned in March last and all the sur
yivors OF the party arrived In Sydney on
April 10. DR.. Ensensperger died on Ker-
guelen on OBJ. last OF beribsri.
This Is q well-known disease, to which
the people OF Japan and other countries
of Southern Asia, a. we'll as parts OF tropical
countries, are subject. 1t 10 now found
that the ravagee OF the disease can be ex-
tended to tho cold regions. even
The appearance OF beriberl on Kerguelen
Is easily explained, Tho steamer Tanglin
took to that island forty Chinese to do the
heavy work of landing the great supply
Of stores and putting up the buildings.
These Cinnamon had a very hard time Of
1t In the raw climate Of Kcrguelen and
several OF them died on tho island Of
beribsri.
Now, the Gauss has returned to tell
the story of her own misfortunes. They
might well have been worse, but the ey-
petition has been very unlucky. In fact,
no other wel-enuipped party that ever
went south to invade the Antarctic has