CELEBRATIONS AT McMURDO

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

CELEBRATIONS AT McMURDO

Return To N2. In Prospect INew Zwtlonfl PrM* 'Anncuntm, AUCKLAND. January 21 It was a day of double celebration for New ZealanMera at Seott Base yesterday. They were pleased that Dr. Fuchs had reached the South Pole—and overjoyed that they will not have to spend onother winter in Antarctica. "We cracked open some of Ed Hillary’s Scotch and brandy and really celebrated.” said Squadron Leader J. Claydon. leader of the Royal New Zealand Air Fort, group at the base, in a radio-tele-phone interview last night. Squadron Leader Claydon saH Dr. Fuchs’s assurance that he would get to Scott Base by the first week in March—March 1 if possible—meant that the party would be able to leave Antarctica in the Endeavour before the winter, set in.

"Dr. Fuchs’s decision to. go on is quite acceptable to the New Zealanders here. In view of that assurance." he said.

Squadron Leader Claydon said the New Zealanders were confident Dr. Fuchs could keep to thia time-table. He was going to spread his seismic shots from 30-mile intervals to gaps of up to 40 or 50 miles. As it took two or three hours to dig the holes for the shots, the saving in time would be considerable. Squadron Leader Claydon mH everyone’at Scott Base wm looking forward to seeing George Lowe, who arrived' at the Psla with Dr. Fuchs. "Wd ail "CW him as a bit of a Captain H. Kirkwood, it H.M.N.Z.S. Endeavour, add some of his officers, joined with the men at Scott Base to celebrate ttr. Fuchs's arrival. Captain Kirkwood said the sHn would be able to take "the whan outfit” back to New Zealand ehjK in March. "That will, be a better ending to the venture than sitting here for another winter.” said Squadron Leader Claydon., Some of the New Zaalnndon will be returning home soon aboard the American ship Greenville Victory; They includh Murray Douglas and Guyon. Warper, who have been surveying as a team, and. Harry Ayres, Roy Carline, and Selwyn. Bufcknell, who have been surveying In the Darwin glacier area. ’ "They have been doing a great job,” said Squadron Leader Claydon. "They have opened up a lot of new area. But their work has been overshadowed ’ a bit by the Polar dramai* Dr. George Marsh, Who Is trekkingfroth Depot TOO to ?cott Base with Bob Miller, in the hope *bf clocking 5000 miles by sledge, is making good progfess. Soviet Tractors Reach Camp (N.Z. Pres, Association—CopvetfMl MOSCOW, January JO. A Soviet tractor teem on Its way to the Antarctic "Pole ot Inaccessibility**' has reached Komsomolskaya Camp after travelling 537 miles from Mirny on the coast of the continent. The Tass agency quoted the expedition leader, Mr Arkady Milolayev, as saying that the team had to overcome loose snow in which jhe tractors' caterpillar tracks sank to g depth of JOin. After a brief rest at Komsomolskaya the men will continue into the Interior of the-Antarctic.