The German South Polar Expedition

Scottish Geographical Magazine

ISSN: 0036-9225 (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rsgj19

The German South Polar expedition

William S. Bruce F.R.S.G.S.

To cite this article: William S. Bruce F.R.S.G.S. (1901) The German South Polar expedition, Scottish Geographical Magazine, 17:9, 461-467, DOI: 10.1080/00369220108733278

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00369220108733278

Published online: 27 Feb 2008.

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Download by: [University of Cambridge] Date: 15 June 2016, At: 17:35 SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL MAGAZINE. 461

THE GERMAN SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION.

• . , By WILLIAM S. BRUCE, F.R.S.G.S. ON the 11th of August there set sail from Kiel an Expedition which bids fair to bring nothing but credit and renown to the great German Empire. Towards this Expedition, I am informed, the German Govern- ment has voted the sum of £100,000, or considerably more than twice the amount voted by the British Government for the British Expedition. There is no doubt that the Kaiser himself has been largely instrumental in inducing his Government to back up efficiently a project recognised, not only by the savants of Germany but also by those of the. whole civilised world. On the invitation of the " Reichsamt des Innern," as well as by the personal request of Professor Dr. Erich von Drygalski, the leader of the Expedition, I was present at the departure of the Gauss. I had previously become well acquainted with the ship and its outfit, as well as with the members of the scientific staff and the officers. One of the features of the German Expedition is the efficiency of its staff and the long and careful training its members have had. The appointment of the leader and staff was one of the first steps taken in the organisation of the Expedition, and the leader from the outset has been the chief organiser of the Expedition. Professor von Drygalski is a scientific man of the highest rank, and, on account of several publications, is already of world-wide repute. Erich von Drygalski was born at Konigsberg, in Prussia, on the 9th of February 1865, and received his education in Konigsberg, Bonn, Leipzig, and Berlin. He graduated at Berlin in 1887, and attached himself to that University and Leipzig. He was especially associated with Professor Ferdinand Frhr. von Richthofen, who, it may be mentioned, has been one of the leading spirits in organising this Expedition. In 1891- 1893 Drygalski successfully led the two Greenland Expeditions of the Gesellschaft fur JErdkunde of Berlin, and was working at the results of these till 1898, in the University of Berlin. In this work he gained for himself a foremost place as a physical geographer and as-a master of many of the problems connected with ice. In 1899 he was appointed Professor-extraordinary in Geography in the Downloaded by [University of Cambridge] at 17:35 15 June 2016 last-named University. As leader of the German Expedition we have therefore a man who has already won his • spurs as a scientist, and one who, from practical experience, has an intimate knowledge of the work he has to undertake. That he is a leader of men, is already proved in his Greenland Expeditions and in his splendid organisation of the German South Polar, Expedition and its staff. In spite of the many things to think of and to do at the last moment before the departure of the Gauss, von Drygalski remained cool, collected, and concentrated, and any one could see that this man, with all his geniality, was able to command the respect of every one in the ship's company. Besides the leader there are four other members of the scientific 462 SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL MAGAZINE.

staff attached to the ship. These have each had about eighteen months to prepare' themselves and to help in organising the equipment of their respective departments. Professor Dr. Ernst Vanhoeffen, of Kiel, who is already well known as a biologist, not only in connection with Kiel University but as a specialist in coelenterata and in connection with his work on the collections of the German Greenland Expeditions already referred to. More recently, too, he has also come to the front as one of the naturalists of the German Deep Sea Expedition (Faldivia) under the direction of Professor Chun. Dr. Vanhoeffen sails as biologist, and his previous extensive experience makes him an expert in the work of such an Expedition. The other three, Dr. Philippi (geologist and chemist), Dr. Bidlingmaier (meteorologist and earth magnetist), and Dr. Gazert (medical officer and bacteriologist), are new to expedition work, but their previous careers and the long and careful training they have all undergone, make it certain that they will do their work welL As an example of the aptness and carefulness of the preparation, it may be mentioned that the geologist last year spent a considerable time in Scotland working up, under the guidance of Sir John Murray, the nature and distribution of deep-sea deposits, making a special study of those of the Valdivia. • The master of the ship is Captain Hans Euser, of Hamburg. To him and four officers, including the first engineer, Mr. A. Stehr, are intrusted the management and navigation of the ship. Messrs. Lerche, Vasel, and Ott are respectively first and second officers, and there are twenty men forming the crew. The Gauss, named after the great magnetist, is a three-masted topsail schooner. She is 151 feet between the perpendiculars, draws 18 feet, has 1450 tons displacement, and 300 indicated horse-power. The engines are auxiliary, ensuring a speed of seven knots. She has been built at Howaldt's works, Kiel, having been designed with the advice of the Construction Department of the Imperial Navy. Two objects were held in view in her construction, each being of equal importance, namely, that she should be sufficiently seaworthy to withstand the high seas and heavy weather of the South Atlantic and South Indian Oceans, and that she should be sufficiently strong for ice navigation. As I am familiar with both ships, it may not be uninteresting to offer a comparison between the Gauss and the Discovery. In general internal structure they strongly resemble one another, but in external appearance Downloaded by [University of Cambridge] at 17:35 15 June 2016 and in the arrangement of laboratories, saloon, and cabins the two ships are markedly different. The Gauss reminds one very forcibly of the Fram, though she has rather a fuller form than that vessel to make her the more seaworthy. Each is strengthened with a system of internal supports and by three external plankings of oak, pitchpine, and greenheart, the latter being outside, as it polishes rather than tears when rubbed by ice. Inside the timbers is a fourth planking. In all, the thickness of the sides of the Gauss including timbers which are very closely placed, varies from 28 inches at the keel to 31 inches at the water-line. Like the Discovery, she is built especially for magnetic work, and has an area of THE GERMAN SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION. 463

30 feet radius from the magnetical table, without any iron in the • ship's structure, every bolt or fixing being of brass. In this respect both vessels are markedly different from that required for the Scottish Expedition, which emphasises oceanographical rather than magnetical work. The bow of the Gauss may be said to be spoon-shaped and in profile is convex in its entire extent, the perpendicular tangent not occurring till the jib-boom is reached. On the other hand, the bow of the Discovery is, if anything, rather more pointed, and in profile is convex in its lower portion and concave in its upper portion, the concavity commencing below the water-line. The stern of the Gauss is very similar to her bow and is deeper than in the Discovery, which has an elliptical stern, after the British naval pattern. The deeper stern will, I believe, prove to be more serviceable than the elliptical in ice navigation. On the whole, I should say the Gauss is the more ice-worthy and the Discovery the more seaworthy boat, and that in heavy pressure or in advancing through ice that the Gauss will rise more easily than the Discovery. Both ships are, however, untried, and it remains to be seen whether this conjecture is correct. For scientific purposes the Gauss may be said to be divided into three parts: forwards biology, midships magnetism, and aft oceanography. She is three decked; first, the bridge and the after-bridge; secondly, the main deck; and thirdly, the 'tween decks. The bridge is T shaped, the perpendicular part of the f forming the roof of the main deck laboratory, gangway to 'tween decks, and chart-room. As is usual, the navigation of the ship is conducted from the bridge which also serves as the magnetical observatory. I believe, in severe weather, if the ship winters, it will be found necessary to have more protection against cold than is now afforded to the magnetist and his instruments. The object, however, in having the magnetical table here is to have it as far, as possible away from the main mass of the ship. The after-bridge is just forward of the funnel over the stoke hole, and is to be used for sound- ing purposes—a Sigsbee machine being to port and Lucas to starboard. On the after-part of the fiddle a windmill is being erected for generat- ing electricity, which can also be produced by steam-power. On the poop is a second steering compass and wheel, and the well for rudder and propeller. On the main deck partly under the foc'sle head is the winch and wire for dredging, trawling, netting, etc., the derrick being on the port bow just aft of it. Thus the forepart of the ship will be used Downloaded by [University of Cambridge] at 17:35 15 June 2016 mainly for biological operations. Then come three deck houses, two small ones to port and starboard supporting the transverse ends of the bridge and forming a lamp and store room, and 'midships extending as far aft as the mainmast is the third, which consists of the deck laboratory, gangway to 'tween decks, and chart-room. This house is 26 feet by 9 feet, and the anterior 18 feet of it forms the large laboratory well lighted with 8 port-holes and electric light. Here microscopic, chemical, physical, biological, and bacteriological research will be carried on, four or five men being easily accommodated at a time, and the laboratory being made comfortable by hot-water pipes. Entering the gangway between this laboratory and the chart-room one goes down below into the 'tween 464 SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL MAGAZINE.

decks. Immediately below the deck laboratory is found another one exactly similar in size, and used mainly for less delicate scientific - work. Adjoining is the photographic dark room fitted up with all the modern requirements of photography. On each side and forward of this laboratory are the crew's quarters, while the saloon, scientific staff, and officers are accommodated 'midships, and on each side of the engine room and galley, just aft of the lower laboratory. In the after part of this section of the ship is a special room for oceanography, where all deep-sea instruments, thermometers, water-bottles, etc., are kept ready for use at a moment's notice. The rest of the vessel is used for storage purposes, coals and food taking up by far the greatest space. The dogs will be accommodated under the foc'sle head, and their food under the poop, where also alcohol and formolin find accommodation. Hydrogen in iron cylinders and other balloon material are stowed aft, and take up a great deal of room. It will be interesting to see how far a balloon can be worked from the ship. Besides dogs, buoys for nets, Hjort's net, paraffin, etc., form the deck cargo ; two kites are also in readiness for immediate use for meteorological investigation. A word as to living-accommodation, which again differs from that on board the Discovery. The men's quarters in each ship are forward and resemble one another. But those of the staff and officers differ; the Discovery having a central saloon with all the cabins opening into it, and the Gauss having the saloon separated from the cabins by a gangway on all sides save one, where, out of necessity, the first officer's cabin enters it. This reduces the size of the saloon but increases the amount of privacy for each of the members of the staff. Each cabin is fitted much the same in both ships. The saloon, though smaller than on the Discovery for the reason stated, is sufficiently roomy and tastefully decorated. It is pannelled ; there are comfortable fixed couch seats, where the staff can sit or lounge, besides individual seats. Musical talent, so characteristic of the German race, is well represented, several members being able to sing well and play; there is a piano, guitar, and zither, and possibly other instruments may appear during the voyage; on the walls are portraits of the Kaiser, Gauss, Bismarck, and two tropical oil paintings. The library is extensive, in part round the saloon, in part on an upper shelf in the 'tween decks gangway. Prominent among the works of reference is a complete set of the Challenger Reports, presented to the Expedition by the British Government. Downloaded by [University of Cambridge] at 17:35 15 June 2016 The work of the German Expedition will be divided into three parts; one carried out on board during the voyage, and the other on shore during the winter quarters, and the third at a station at Kerguelen. After leaving the Kiel canal and the mouth of the Elbe the Gauss will pro- ceed by way of Cape St. Vincent and Ascension to Cape Town. Here, not unlikely, a meeting may take place with the Discovery, though the latter may arrive a few days earlier; after that the Gauss will steer for Kerguelen, the headquarters of the German Expedition; here von Drygalski expects to meet a transport ship that will bring Welsh coal supplied by the British Government, and fifty sledge dogs from Eastern Siberia; beside the staff and outfit for a scientific station to be established THE GERMAN SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION. 465

at Kerguelen. Dr. Enzenberger, till lately in charge of the meteorological observatory on the summit of the Zug Spitz, by Munich, at an elevation . of 10,000 feet, will be in charge of this station and with him will be Dr. Luyken and Dr. Werth, and two seamen. The main work of this station will be meteorology, but other branches of scientific investigation will also receive attention. The projected route of the Expedition is of importance with regard to the first part of the work. " It is intended to enter the Antarctic from the direction of Kerguelen, and the details of the route, particularly the deviations from a straight course, are planned with regard to oceanographical, geological, and magnetic requirements. The oceanographical considerations are the existing lacunte in our knowledge of the depths of the sea; the geological are the collection from various island groups of specimens for comparison with those obtained in the Antarctic; the magnetic conditions make it desirable to cut the lines of equal value of the various magnetic elements in as many points as possible." Taking all these conditions into account, von Drygalski proposes " not to run directly south from Kerguelen, but first to sail eastward to about 90° E., and then turn towards the south, as on that meridian deep-sea soundings are wanting. For the same reason the route from Cape Town to Kerguelen would be curved southward between Prince Edward and Crozet Islands, while on the other hand, on the return voyage the line between South Georgia and Tristan da Cunha will be straight, because it is desirable to investigate the southern extension of the great Atlantic rise." Von Drygalski intends to penetrate the Antarctic region at the point of the still hypothetical Termination Island in order to discover the western side of Victoria Land, and to clear up its possible connection with Kemp and Enderby Land. He believes that taking this route-he may ultimately be able to sweep westward by a high southern latitude into the South Atlantic and emerge by way of South Georgia. The second part of von Drygalski's programme is "the establish- ment of a scientific station in the Antarctic, at which a full year will be spent in geographical and biological work, and which will serve as a starting-point for longer or shorter land-journeys. It is, of course, impossible to say where this station will be, as the site must depend on the results of the discoveries made in pushing southwards. An effort

Downloaded by [University of Cambridge] at 17:35 15 June 2016 will be made to establish it on the west side of Victoria Land, where one may expect to find an extensive land surface which will offer a favourable opportunity for carrying on various researches; such a position would be particularly desirable for magnetic observations, on account of its proximity to the south magnetic pole, and for co-operation with the British Expedition, which intends to land, some of their party on the eastern coast." I believe that it is very probable that on this coast von Drygalski will find a place where it will be more easy to penetrate into the interior of the Antarctic continent than any place yet known. But as von Drygalski says, "What will actually be done must naturally be decided on the spot. The members of the Expedition must be so prepared that they can distinguish the important from the VOT.. XVII. 2 L 466 SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL MAGAZINE.

unimportant, and' the necessary from the merely desirable; in a word, the purely Antarctic, if one may say so, from what could be carried out equally well in other parts of the world." And there is no doubt that in this he will realise his object as nearly as it is possible, for a more carefully prepared and experienced staff never set sail before. It is not necessary to reiterate what has been said by von Drygalski, by Sir John Murray, and by many others what the work of a modern Antarctic Expedition must be. The German Expedition will undertake as much of this work as possible, emphasising the purely geographical, geological, magnetical, and meteorological side as well as the biological, where this does not involve deep-sea investigation. It is not the in- tention of the Germans to carry on deep-sea investigation to any extent. Indeed, at one time it was intended only to carry 500 fathoms of cable for dredging. Now it has been extended to 2000 fathoms, but that will certainly not reach the bottom in many parts which they intend to visit. Hence the importance of co-operation on the part of the Scottish Expedition, one of the chief objects of which will be to " devote its attention more especially to physical and biological oceanographical researches"l in the greatest known depths of the Antarctic Ocean. For in the Weddell Sea Eoss sounded and got no bottom with 4000 fathoms, and the soundings of the Valdivia help to bear this out. In meteorology, too, there will be a very close co-operation on the part of the four Expeditions. The departure of the German South Polar Expedition marks an era in -the rapid development of the German Empire. It is the greatest geographical undertaking that Germany has ever set her hand to, and to all appearances she will rise to her task as a giant among nations. As we have stated she will not be alone in the work. Already an Expedi- tion representative of the British Empire has set sail on the same mission, and next year Sweden and Scotland will also be represented. Rivalry there will be; but it will consist in the endeavour of each Expedition to obtain the best possible scientific results. There will be co-operation as well as division of labour; while Sweden will specialise on the geology of Terre Louis Philip, and Scotland on the deep sea investigation and meteorology; the German and British Expeditions will devote special attention to magnetism. In all of them purely geographical work will necessarily form an important feature. Downloaded by [University of Cambridge] at 17:35 15 June 2016

WORKS BY ERICH VON DRYGALSKI. 1887. Die Geoiddeformationen der Eiszeit. Z. Ges. Erdk. Berlin, vol. xxii. pp. 169-280. Diagrams. 1895. Der gegemvartige Standpunkt der Polarforschung. G. Z., (1895), 685-691. 1896. Die Siidpolar-Forschung und die Probleme des Eises. Verb. d. 11. Deutsch. Geographentages zu Bremen. . . . 1895 (Berlin 1896), 18-29. „ Die Deutsche Expedition nach der Westkiiste Gronlands und die Aufgaben der Polarforschung. J.Ber. Wiirtemberg. Ver. f. Handels-geogr., Stutt- gart, 1896, 13 & 14,,146-148. 1 Scot. Geog. Mag., vol. xvi. No. 6, p. 353, June 1900. THE GERMAN SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION. 467

1896. Gronland und der Nordpol. (In "Fridtjof Nansen, 1891-93," von W. C. Broger & N. Rolfsen. Deutsoh v. Eugen v. Enzberg. Berlin, 1896. Anhang. zur deutsohen Ansgabe, pp. 415-422.) 1897. Die Ziele der Siidpolarforschung. In Verh. Erdk., Leipzig, 1896 (1897), xxxix.-xliii. „ Gronland Expedition der Gesellschaft fiir Erdkunde zu Berlin, 1891-93. 1898. Die Aufgaben der Forschung am Nordpol und Siidpol, 1898. G. Z., Leipzig, 4(1898), 121-133. ' 1899. Plan und Aufgaben der Deutsohen Siidpolar Expedition. Verh. Ges. Erdk.,. Berlin, 26 (1899), 452-4C3. ,, Gemeinschaftliche Sitzung der Gesellschaft fiir Erdkunde zu Berlin und der Abteilung Berlin-Oharlottenburg der Deutschen Kolonial-Gesellschaffc am 16. Jan. 1899. Tagesordnung: Die geplante Deutsche Siidpolar Expedition. Vortrag von Dr. v. Drygalski. Bemerkungen von Geh.- Reg.-Rat. v. Berzold. (Contains also speeches by Freiherr F. von Richthofen and Prjnz von Arenberg.) Verh. Ges. Erdk., Berlin, 26 (1899), 58-87. „ Ueber die wissenschaftliche, praktische und nationale Bedeutung, der deutschen Siidpolar Expedition. Naturw, Wochenschrift, Berlin, 14 (1899), 477-483. May. 1900. The German Antarctic Expedition. ' Nature,' London, 61 (1900), 316-327.

THE WOEK AND EQUIPMENT FOR EARTH MAGNETISM AND METEOROLOGY OF THE GERMAN SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION DURING THE TIME OF THE SOUTH POLAR RESEARCH, 1901-1903.

By Dr. FR. BIDLINGMAIEU. AT this time, when the German South Polar Expedition is on the point of leaving home, it would be of interest to give an account of the work to be done in Earth Magnetism and Meteorology by the Expedition, and also the equipment at disposal, and further, to discuss to what extent an international co-operation is practicable during the period of South Polar research. Downloaded by [University of Cambridge] at 17:35 15 June 2016 Germany will set up two stations for the year 1902-1903, namely, a chief station in the Antarctic regions, with Dr. Fr. Bidlingmaier as observer, and a branch station on Kerguelen Island, with Dr. Karl Luyken as observer. I. THE MAGNETIC WORK. 1. Ship's Observations.—During the journey, both to and from the Antarctic, every day as far as possible a complete determination of all three elements will be taken. Besides, through complete deviation- determination, before the departure, off St. Vincent, off Ascension, Cape of Good Hope, Kerguelen, and in the Antarctic, the influence of the ship's body on all three elements will be fixed.