U.S. Navy Plans More Help For N.Z. Party

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28162, 28 December 1956, Page 6

U.S. Navy Plans More Help For N.Z. Party

[From BRIAN O’NEILL, “The Press’’ correspondent with the United States Navy’s Antarctic Expedition) McMURDO SOUND, December 26. An additional effort in its logistic support for the New Zealand Antarctic expedition is envisaged by the United States Navy task force.

Ice conditions in McMurdo Sound have complicated the plan to put ashore the expedition’s 1000 tons of cargo carried in the Navy freighter Private John R. Towle from Wellington. Now it seems likely that the simple discharge of cargo on to the ice for hauling away by the New Zealanders will become an amphibious operation.

This will require the use of Navy landing craft, . men, and other equipment, and could leave the cargo much closer to the site of Scott Base at Butter Point for the expedition to handle. Captain Gerald L. Ketchum, deputy-commander of the task force, said this after making an inspection of the area in a special helicopter reconnaissance. He was accompanied by two members of the New Zealand advance party— Messrs M. Douglas and G. A. Warren.

A few weeks ago it was thought that the ice might be too tough for the ships to get close to Butter Point, which at present is separated from the sea by three miles of ice. Now it has been found that the ice has turned rotten and is full of potholes and waterholes so the ships will probably be able to go through without icebreaking being necessary ahead. Unfor-

tunately there is no solid ice left in the vicinity for off loading the cargo and none strong enough to support the tractors needed to drag it away.

As there are only scant data on the waters in the area, the Navy does not know whether the 9000-ton Towle can get close enough to shore to land the material directly on the glacial moraine.

“Right now the Towle could probably go in alone, but the ice is still thick enough to prevent landing craft operations,” said Captain Ketchum. ‘‘Under those conditions there is no point in doing anything immediately as in the next two or three weeks the rotten ice should all be blownout.

“When the ice is gone the Glacier is likely to go ahead of the Towle. I feel that going close will be the problem,” he said.