GERMAN POLAR EXPLORATION.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 354, 15 October 1898, Page 5 (Supplement)

GERMAN POLAR EXPLORATION.

The German Polar expedition which in the spring of this year started, under the direction of ITc-rr'Theodor Lorner, with the object of defining more closely 'the topography of the Polar regions any, if possible, of discovering some trace of the Andreo expedition has' ju6t returned to Hammerfest, where a short stay will be made in order to allow the ship Heligoland to be refitted and the crew to take a temporary rest. A special representative of the Berliner Lokalanzciyer who accompanied the expedition has just forwarded to that journal a long and detailed account of the voyage, of which the following is the substance : Horn sound was reached after some diffioulty, but, owning to the unusual quantity of floe ice, which, breaking off from the glacievs, kept sweeping down with terrific force, anohorage was rendered very difficult and dangerous. Towards the end of July King Charles Islands were reached, where a halt of a few days was mado. From scientific observations made they were able to define the exao 1 ; position of the islands, and they discovered that the English and Norwegian maps were slightly inaccurate. The group consists of three big islands— Swedieh Foreland, Jena Island, aud a third lying between these two, which they christened August Schorl Island in honour of the promoter of the expedition. There they came upon the breeding grounds of the ivorv gull {hints ebunicits), very few specimens of whose eggs have hitherto been discovered. Two small islands in the southern bay of Jena Island received the names of Tirpitx and Helgoland respectively. Cantain Rudiger took ppecial observations of the exact position of King Charles islands. An attempt to push on to Franz Josef Land failed owing to bad weather. The Helgoland than was able to coast round the island on the northeast and from the south, in spite of the difficulties caused by fog aud ice, thereby proving that it is possible to go northwards notwithstanding the contray Polar currents. The exact position of the island of Storo is given as being 10' further north than it is at present indicated in maps. The most northerly point reached was latitude 81° 32\ where the boundary of pack ice was determined. Much hitherto unknown ground was fished with drag nets especially round the east point of King Charles Islands, and at the extreme end of Spitsbergen iu water 1,000 metres deep. A good deal of interesting material was found. No signs of the Andree expedition were discovered. Many seals aud a large number of reindeer were killed, as well as 44 exceedingly fine polar bears. Four live cubs are being brought back to Germany. Professor Richard Friese, the celebrated animal painter, was able to make some excellent sketches, aud many photographs were taken of the hitherto unexplored lauds. Among other interesting subject* for future investigation by bacteriologists it is stated that the existence of plankton was established at over 100 hauls of the drag nets. The expedition will start on another voyage of exploration as soon as the ship has been refitted and the necessary stock of victuals been taken on board.