RECREATION IN ANTARCTIC

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28178, 17 January 1957, Page 12

RECREATION IN ANTARCTIC

Facilities For U.S. Sailors

[From BRIAN O’NEILL, “The Press” correspondent with the United States Navy’s Antarctic Expedition! McMURDO SOUND. Jan. 12. About the only thing lacking in home-fire comforts and recreation p or 221 volunteer sailors manning seven American outposts in Antarctica during the 1957 winter night will be mother’s cooking.

While scientists in the frozen Polar wastes seek causes of sunspots and radio whistlers, take auroral observations, and conduct other studies, there will be hundreds of leisure time activities to occupy men of the United States Navy which is supporting the geophysical research programme in the earth’s coldest laboratory. Each man, scheduled to scend more than a year in the South Polar area, was asked how he would like to while away his offduty hours. The Navy saw to it that his request was fulfilled by commercial suppliers. One man surrounded by millions of square miles of snow and ice wanted to grow plants. The Navy furnished him with two cubic yards of sterile earth, fertiliser, and seeds. One sailor will have a set of golf clubs: another will build muscles with barbells; and yet another will study the art of French cooking. Books and Records Each of the seven United States bases will receive identical shipments of books, magazines and records and 300 motion pictures. Librarians will stock more than 1500 books ranging from western fiction to university texts. Technicians will install hi-j fidelity systems for more than 1 500 long-playing records for armchair listening, but for those who wish to make their own music there will be electronic pianos, trap drums, banjos, guitars and brass instruments. One chief petty officer will be given a set of Scottish bagpipes with a book of instructions to learn the Highland skirl. Also spread about the bases' will be nearly 16,000 birthday candles, Santa Claus suits, artificial Christmas trees and noisemakers for New Year and fireworks for July 4 Independence celebrations.