Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-04
GERMANS PRESS STUDY.
Expedition Passes Winter In Central
Part Of Greenland.

Expedition Passes Winter In Central
Part Of Greenland.
BY DIR. JOHANNES GEoRGI,
Chief of the Central station. German Green
land Expedition.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.
CENTRAL STATION, German Green
land Expedition, May via Berlin,
July 81, N.AN.AJ.--we have passed
the Winter in the center of the inland
according to schedule. Our health was
normal throughout, and the meteorolog-
ical and psychological work could be car
ried on without interruption, as far as
the limits Of equipment and labor per-
mitted.
When the sinking of the temperature
to 20 degrees below zero and O coating
of frost crystals made living In the tent
impracticable, we dug in On October S.
While ] was staying alone here last
Summer. between July 80 and Septem-
Der -, had dug out, to depth Of
about 6l5 feet, shelter for the station
barometer. protecting the entrance
from snowdrifts by q circular wan ez
snow. AS soon as DR.. Serge arrived, he
continued the digging operations. which
produced an additional excavation of
somewhat more than is by Q feet, IN
tended originally for the measurements
to be taken on the thickness Of the ice.
AS these had to be put on till this Sum-
mer, however, we moved into this ice
cave.
Carve Beds on Ice.
The cold was kept out by curtains of
sacks and reindeer skins, and for ven
tilation we made hefe about inches
in diameter through the ceiling. The
thickness of the neve covering our abode
was at first about 81 feet, and later in
creased through fresh snowfalls 10 close
to 10 feet
For sleeping places we had cots of
frozen snow carved out from the wall;
for table and chairs empty provision
boxes For lighting we had oil lamps
improvised from tin cans and camera
plates.
Provisions we had In ample quantity
Even the addition Of DR.. Loewe caused
no shortage, since each 26-ration pro-
vision chest could be stretched out to
a third more. DR.. Loewe came here
on October 80 of last year, when the
thermometer stood at IS degrees below,
In the company of Prof. Alfred Wegener
and the Greenlander Rasfnus-it was
the last sled party to our station-who
had to be left behind with us because
he had his feet frozen
Fuel Runs Short.
While doing well In point Of food, we
had TO put the oil stove out OF COM
mission. Our stock Of petroleum only
allowed q daily consumption Of little
more than a quart for cooking, lighting
and heating and 1t soon developed that
1t was not enough for all three. The
two lamps, however. and the warmth
given Of by the primuS stove during
cooking suficed to maintain the tenn
point, If not comfortable, at least
bearable.
Just under the ceiling 1t was between
freezing and degrees above CFahren-
heit), at the height of the table be-
tween and Is degrees below freezing
and near the floor It fell as low as 4
degrees below zero. so that at table or
doing any work one had TO sit in q
sleeping bag
the condition Of our comrade, Loewe.
Through massaging we succeeded In
saving his feet, but all the toes Of the
right foot and four of the left had to be
ampufated. The fifth we had TO leave
because Of lack of anesthetics. and It
viii have to be amputated by the doctor
at Umanak. Pocket knives, tin shears
and hand saw we're our surgical in
Struments.
Healing Progresses.
Healing progressed without serious
complications. but so slowly that L0ewe
Is even now compelled to keep IN bed
He takes part however, with the great
est eagerness IN the radiation measure
nents that can be carried on indoors
and IN diverse and. in part. very ex-
tenSive computations
As 10 disturbances coming from OUT
side. mention should be made Of the
fact that each Of the recurrent billiards
would block up our exit. despite the
structures protecting Il. 30 that digging
70 open 1t was frequently necessary.
The strong protecting wall itself was IN
large part demolished on February is.
and even after ii had been rebuilt more
strongly IL suffered considerable de-
formation, To keep step with the piling
up Of the snow the wan had to be
heightened repeatedly.
Beginning &C Christmas, we noticed
progressive and c0n1i1eFUnla gtnkinR
90 4lae xp0f ok cur dwslilna 49, 0e-
jeets NJ On TOP of TIE boxe8 &sne the