378 



The National Geographic Magazine 



be received of the expedition by the first 

 of June of that year, it will be in order 

 to consider the expedienc}^ of fitting out 

 a relief ship. 



The leader of the expedition, Dr. Erich 

 von Drj'galski, of Berlin, was appointed 

 by His Majest}^ the Emperor, and has 

 thoroughly studied the problems of 

 South Polar regions. He has been 

 placed in absolute control of the South 

 Polar ship Gauss, its personnel and 

 equipment. All the arrangements for 

 the work to be carried on from the time 

 the ship left German}^ are under his 

 direction and subject entirely to his 

 control. Marine laws regulate the po- 

 sition of the ship's compan}' toward its 

 leader. 



The expedition is an undertaking of 

 the German Empire, and is fitted out 

 through the Secretar}^ of State for the 

 Interior, Herr Dr. Graf von Posadowsk}'- 

 Wehner. It sails under the Imperial 

 Service flag, and its officers and men 

 bear special service designations author- 

 ized from the highest quartei's. It is 

 thoroughly well equipped, both scientif- 

 ically and practical^, for its ($10,000) 

 mission. In addition to the funds pro- 

 vided by the Empire, about 40,000 marks 

 in small amounts have been contrib- 

 uted by private societies. The interest 

 aroused in the expedition throughout 

 the Empire has been very great, and has 

 led to the presentation of many valuable 

 gifts and offerings which will add much 

 to the efficiency of the equipment. 



All the members of the expedition 

 will be paid their regular and special 

 remuneration from the imperial funds. 

 The}' are also well insured against ac- 

 cidents and diseases caused b}' the cli- 

 mate. Risks too great for ordinary- 

 marine insurance companies to assume 

 are borne by the Empire. 



The results of the expedition and the 

 collections made by it will be the prop- 

 erty of the Empire, which will assume 

 charge of their disposal. The scientific 

 members of the expedition will be em- 



ployed in the arrangement of the col- 

 lections in such manner as their useful- 

 ness on the expedition warrants. They 

 have to address all their suggestions and 

 desires to the leader of the expedition, 

 who will make all further arrangements. 

 The personnel of the expedition, be- 

 side the leader, who will conduct the 

 oceanographical and geodetic work, are 

 as follows : 



a. The scientific members : Prof. Dr. 



E. Vanhoffen, Kiel, for zoology and 

 botan}'^; Dr. H. Gazert, Munich, ph3^si- 

 cian and bacteriologist; Dr. E. Philippi, 

 Breslau, for geology and chemistr}'; Dr. 



F. Bidlingmaier, Eauffen, for earth- 

 magnetism and meteorology. 



b. The commander of the Gauss, a 

 captain of the Hamburg- American line, 

 Hans Ruser, from Hamburg, who was 

 selected with the permission of His 

 Majest}^ the Emperor. 



c. The ship's officers : W. Lerche, 

 from Stettin, first officer ; R. Vahsel, 

 from Hanover, second officer, both from 

 the Hamburg- American line; E. Ott, 

 from Hochst, second officer ; A. Stehr, 

 from Hamburg, first engineer. 



d. The crew of the Gauss, which con- 

 sists of two assistant engineers, two ma- 

 chinists, two boatmen, one Norwegian 

 pilot, one cook, one steward, 6 seamen, 

 and five stokers — in all, 20 men. 



e. The personnel selected for the Ker- 

 guelen station consists of Dr. E. Werth, 

 from Munster, as biologist ; Dr. K. 

 Luyken, from Munich, as meteorolo- 

 gist, and two seamen. 



The Kerguelen station is chiefl}^ in- 

 tended for magnetic and meteorological 

 observations, which, as well as similar ' 

 work conducted b}' the German Chief 

 expedition, will be carried on in accord- 

 ance with the international program 

 agreed on with England. This program 

 has been sent to all States having mag- 

 netic-meteorological stations, as well as 

 to the stations themselves, with the re- 

 quest for cooperation. Many have al- 

 ready signified their readiness to do so. 



