UNLOADING U.S SUPPLIES

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28161, 27 December 1956, Page 2

UNLOADING U.S SUPPLIES

N.Z. Volunteers Assist [From BRIAN O’NEILL, "The Press" correspondent with the United States Navy’s Antarctic Expedition.] Aboard U.S.S. Glacier, McMURDO, Dec. 24. New Zealanders in the Antarctic awaiting the arrival of the main party in H.M.N.Z.S Endeavour have planned a working Christmas. The assistance of two parties to help the United States Navy with unloading supplies from the Cargo convoy was offered and accepted, and one small party has planned to go “stooging round on the ice” killing seals to provide meat for the expedition’s dogs. The New Zealanders are quartered aboard the Glacier which carried them south. The icebreaker has been decorated with green pine trees given by the New Zealand Forest Service and hung with tinsel and electric lamps and candles. Christinas trees add bright spots to the wardroom, the crew’s mess and the petty officers’ mess. Christmas celebrations with a beer party on the ice are beginning under the midnight sun as December 25 begins. The Navy freighter, Private John Towle, has 119 tons of beer stowed in its holds for two years’ supply of the Antarctic bases—the equivalent of less than 20 ounces a rrjan each day. Red Cross Presents Many men have bought Christmas presents .with them. Those who did not will have specially packed presents put aboard by the American Red Cross which has supplied 400 packages. The presents are wallets and cigarette cases with wrapped cigarettes, candy, nqts and small fruits, and crackers. Among the presents for the

commander of the Navy task force, Rear-Admiral George J. Dufek, is a puzzle game which his daughter, a journalist working for a San Francisco newspaper, has sent him. With summer operations in full swing and additional problems to cope with in difficult ice conditions, the puzzle will be how he will find time to puzzle out the puzzle. Two ships of the convoy, the cargo ship Arneb and the Coastguard icebreaker Northwind escorting, will join the other five vessels in McMurdo Sound for Christmas. They have been diverted from Cape Hollett with urgently - needed snow - moving equipment aboard. This means a short delay in starting the construction of the joint AmericanNew Zealand I.G.Y. base at the rape. Work is now scheduled to begin in the first week of January.