ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7296, 8 January 1902, Page 1

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION.

. THE GAUSS. The German Antarctic exploring ship Gauss, which is to work in concert with the Discovery in the scientific investigations which are about to be made in ithe Antarctic Circle, reached Cape Town on Nov. 23, cays the "Cape Times." The. arrival of, the vessel is somewhat later than was originally- anticipated, but this is accounted for by the fact that the GaMSs^&ilynqt proceed to Ascension, as was in •oW|p£st,,inßtaince contemplated, but continu^ jCTarticularly interesting series of scientific, myeStigations, as a result of which a great d£al>f the most valuable and interesting information has been obtained. The Gauss is an unpreten-tious-looking vessel, rigged as a barquentine, and with the engines, as was the cases with the Discovery, placed well aft, the funnel being between the mainmast and the mizze». lie ship is, of course, built witha view to strengbb, and her sides are of- great thickness, and designed to withstand the fiercest grip of the ice-floes. The voyage from Europe has been made partly under steam and partly also under sail, the vessel behaving exceedingly well and proving herself to be a thoroughly good' sea boat. The Gauss is commanded by Captain Ruser, the other officers being First-Lieu-tenant Lerche and Second-Lieutenants Vabeet and Ott. • The scientific staff consists of Professor Von Dryg^lski, who is the leader of the expedition, Professor Von Hoffen, Dr Gaze-rt (surgeon), Dr Phillippi (geologist), Dr Bidlingmaier (meteorologist), and Dr Werth. The greatest care and forethought has, of course, been exercised in the construction- of the ship. In the saloqn amidships hangs the portrait of the German Emperor, signed by his Majesty, end presented to the vessel after a personal '< iVisit of inspection prior to her departure. * Here also hangs the portrait of. the eminent mathematician and, scientist whose name the ship bears, whilst the vessel's library, arranged round the isalooO', contains all the necessary scientific works of reference. On leaving Cape Town the ship will proceed to Kerguelen Island,*, from which point the expedition will still proceed southwards, and will winter .at- some convenient harbour as circumstances may permit. On the break-up of winter the interior of the Antarctic Continent will be investigated as, far as possible by means of dogs and sledges, . and wherever possible the staff of the ex-'l pedition will work in co-operation with the ship's company of the Discovery, now on her way to the south. The following is tiie text of the decwfe recently published' by the German Emperor, detailing the objects pnd scope of the expediton :— "Dr Erich Von Drygalski, Pi<ofessor in the University of Berlin, is appointed leader of the expedition, which is to leave Kiel in August next, and proceed' to ithe Island of Kerguelen, where a magnetic and meteorological station is to be established. The journey to the south is then to be continued, the principal field of exploration being the Indo-Atlantic side of ithe South Polar region. Should land be discovered which can be reached in this region, a scientific station is to be erected on it, and is to be kept going for a year if possible. The return journey shouldi be attempted 1 either in the spring of 1903, or, at latent, of 1904, as the leader of the expedition may tfecide."