CONTINUATION OF TREK

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28491, 22 January 1958, Page 10

CONTINUATION OF TREK

U.S. Scientist Critical

Sir Edmund Hillary’s decision to continue to the South Pole after reaching Depot 700 was supported by ata American International Geophysical Year scientist who arrived at Lyttelton yesterday after spending nearly a year at the South Pole base.

Dr. E. W. Remington, a glaciologist, who was a member of the reception committee when Sir Edmund Hillary arrived at the Pole, said Hillary had really no choice but to continue to the Pole, as Dr. Fuchs’s part, was so far behind schedule. To have stayed at Depot 700 would have meant that the New Zealand party would have had to consume fuel and trail rations left at the depot for Dr. Fuchs’s team. The general feeling at the polar base was that Dr. Fuchs was unwise to continue his transAntarctic crossing, said Dr. Remington. It was considered that Dr. Fuchs would be well advised to withdraw, and resume the crossing next summer when he would not be racing against time and would be able to complete a seismic survey over the whole of the route. By deciding to press on to Scott Base. Dr. Fuchs would keep a lot

of men and equipment at the South Pole and Scott Base when they should normally have been withdrawn. The United States Navy had pledged its support to Dr. Fuchs and the V.X.6 squadron was standing by in case the party got into difficulties and had to be evacuated. Dr. Remington said. Drop in Temperature

The aircraft would not be able to get off the ice after, about the middle of next month, when the temperature dropped to about —6O degrees. At that temperature, the aircraft’s engines would not start, and Dr. Fuchs’s weasels and snowcats would not operate, as the grease would freeze. “The temperature will drop at a terrific rate in about two weeks, and Dr. Fuchs hasn’t got very much time,” he said.

“It is a bit of an imposition on a lot of people to keep them there during the winter just so he can make the trip this year.” Dr. Remington did not think it would involve any heavy additional cost for Dr. Fuchs to withdraw and continue again next summer, as the United States Air Force would probably be quite willing to fly the men out and then fly them in again next year.