Antarctic Force To Be About Same Size

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30512, 6 August 1964, Page 16

Antarctic Force To Be About Same Size

The United States Navy Antarctic support force is expected to be of about the same size—in manpower, aircraft and ships—as that of last season, according to Lieutenant J. J. McHugh, the staff cargo officer who recently arrived In Christchurch from Washington. He said yesterday that an estimated 22,000 measured tons of cargo would be delivered to the Antarctic, mainly by ship. About 400 short tons of priority cargo, including fresh provisions from New Zealand, would be flown to McMurdo Station during the summer season. Last year 22,280 tons were sent to the continent.

The first of the 11 ships in the task force Is due at Lyttelton next month, and on September 10 the first of 29 Boeing military transport planes will land at Christchurch Airport. On board will be 74 staff members. After September 25 two or three Boeings will be landing weekly.

In Christchurch preparing for the arrival of the main force in October is the supply officer (Lieutenant-Com-mander J. Taylor), who estimates that this year about I.lm dollars will be spent in New Zealand—mdst of it in Christchurch—by the Harewood headquarters. About 80 per cent of this figure will be spent in the summer season.

This amount will be Increased again by visiting United States ships to Lyttelton, Dunedin and Wellington. Usually this figure is about 200,000 dollars. The gross amount is more or less on a par with that

spent in previous seasons. Most of the money goes on general provisions and food, land rentals, utilities, vehicle maintenance and repairs, and the hiring of local labour. Fuel contracts are often arranged in the United States with subsidiary companies in the Dominion. Sun Returns

Last Friday men at Hallett Station raised the flags of the United States and New Zealand for the first time since May. Although the sun had brightened the sky for some time it was the first time it was visible.

Temperatures at the base dropped to 20 degrees below zero for several days, and this Is expected to speed up the thickening of the ice in preparation for a new runway at the base. The base’s first visitors this year came at the week-end —snow petrels and seals. At all other American stations on the continent the situation was reported normal.