Dr. Fuchs To Resume Polar Journey Tomorrow

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28491, 22 January 1958, Page 12

Dr. Fuchs To Resume Polar Journey Tomorrow

(New Zealand Press Association) SOUTH POLE, January 21. The leader of the British Antarctic traverse party, Dr. Vivian Fuchs, said today that the party would begin the second leg of the continental crossing on Thursday.

Dr. Fuchs said the party was three weeks behind its programme when it left Shackleton Base for South Ice on November 24. but since then it had caught up two days. The date for arrival at the Pole had been announced last year as December 21. However, he said, this was never the date planned by him. It probably arose through some humorous discussion about arriving at the Pole for Christmas. He had always planned to reach the Pole early in January, he said. . The journey was principally a scientific one. Dr. Fuchs said. In addition to the. seismic soundings, graviemetric readings were made

every 15 miles and meteorological observations were made every three hours. Friction measurements were made on one group of sledges, but these could be done while the vehicles were moving normally. These observations would continue to be made on the journey to Scott Base.

“Of course, adventure has interest, but I think that this should be secondary. These days when you are making a journey from A to B you make it to do a job.” Dr. Fuchs said that the ice cap they had traversed appeared to run up and down over a number of mountain ranges. His impression was that all the land was above sea level. The land under the ice cap in the region of the Pole appeared to drop away sharply. A hundred miles out the underlying land was at a height of about 7000 ft, but at 25 miles out it was about 4000 ft. Condition of Vehicles Dr. Fuchs, said that the four snocats and the remaining weasel had run well. He thought it possible that the weasel would complete the whole journey. It was slower than the other vehicles, but did a good job. He understood that the weasel Which had been dropped by Sir Edmund Hillary’s party would need about two days' work to be made-serviceable, and if this was theease he might not pick It up. ■' Dr. Fuchs thought the tractors the New- Zealanders brought to the Pole would be too slow to take oh- < No great difficulties were foreseen for the second half of the run to Scott Base. The party’s greatest need jwas sleep. They had between five and seven hours a night. > Dr. Fuchs said that he was Joking on all the members of his party, but there was not much room in the vehicles for further passengers. Queen’s Message To Dr. Fuchs (N.Z. Press Association—Cotn/rtahtf LONDON, January 20. The Queen today replied to a message from the leader of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (Dr. Vivian Fuchs) officially advising her of his arrival at the South Pole. As patron of the expedition, the Queen said: * ’Thank you very much for your message, which, as patron of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition, I was very glad to receive. My husband and I send our warm congratulations to all members of the' Commonwealth trans-Antarctic party and our best wishes for the next stage of your journey to Scott Base. —Elizabeth R.” ‘ Dr. Fuchs, in a message to the Queen today, officially advised her of his arrival at the South Pole. It read: 1

“Today, January 19, the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition reached the South Pole after travelling 930 miles from Shackleton Base. All are in good health and heart, and we look forward to departing in two‘days’ time on the last stretch of our journey to Scott Base.—Fuchs.” The Colonial Secretary (Mr Alan Lennox-Boyd) has sent a message to Dr. Fuchs congratulating him on “a magnificent achievement.”