DEFENCE AT POLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 February 1947, Page 8

DEFENCE AT POLES

BYRD EXPEDITION LAYS FOUNDATION PREPAKING_FOR FUTURE. NEW YORK, Feb. 9. “If the defence of America hinges on the Poles, as it may well do in the future, a unit of inforjned and experienced air and sea power presents a formidable defence combination. The foundation for such a defence at either Pole has been laid here ” This statement was made by Rear-Admiral R. H. Cruzen, the task force commander of the Byrd expedition in the Antarctic, when discussing, in an interview, the lessons of the expedition from the point ot view of America’s defence. “The expedition has built its base facilities on an ice ledge which is capable of housing nearly 500 men, and has begun operations of a fleet of aircraft,” said Rear-Admiral Cruzen. “It is not hard, therefore, to envisage what could be accomplished by an experienced, iullyequipped and supplied force many times the size of the present expedition. The expedition has . proved that water-borne supplies in Polar regions, and under the most stringent Polar conditions, are extremely practicable, also that steel ships can operate as effective forces in both Polar zones.” , Rear-Admiral Cruzen emphasised that intelligent American defence ol either Pole would be impossible unless the United States was willing to support many expeditions similar to the present Antarctic survey. “The amazing machine developments of the war years now place both Poles within our grasp and under man’s nominal control, fie said. “It would be unfortunate if we were to relinquish our hold over any potential conquest of them.