BRITISH SHIP IN ICE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29145, 4 March 1960, Page 3

BRITISH SHIP IN ICE

Glacier Ordered To Rescue

The American icebreaker Glacier was yesterday ordered to the rescue of the British Antarctic expedition, which had signalled for help on Wednesday.

The British ship is the Kista Dan. which is about 40 miles south of the Argentine ship San Martin, off the coast of Grahamland. The Glacier would first free the Argentinian ship and then go to the assistance of the icebound Kista Dan. a spokesman at United States Navy task force headquarters in Christchurch said yesterday.

Instructions to the Glacier to help the British party led by Sir Vivian Fuchs, who had radioed their distress to the Americans, came from RearAdmiral D. M. Tyree, the navy commander in Christchurch. The senior American officer aboard the Glacier, Captain E. A. McDonald, has signalled his position as off pack ice by Amiot Island, north of Adelaide Island. He has said he will not make a frontal assault on the ice locking in the San Martin but will approach the vessel from the north. At present he is being delayed by bad weather. The Navy also reports that the San Martin’s helicopter has taken out seven men from the Argentine base in Marquerite Bay. Earlier, the Argentinians had sought American help to do the job. The British expedition is on its way to reopen a base on nearby Stonington Island.