CANADIAN ARCTIC MANOEUVRES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 57, 9 March 1946, Page 4

CANADIAN ARCTIC MANOEUVRES

U.S. KEENLY INTERESTED Washington, March 6. It is learned by the “New York Times” correspondent that the Army Air Force, which is at present cooperating in the Canadian Arctic manoeuvres, is keenly interested in extending its own knowledge of Arctic operations and plans the expansion of tactical research in Alaska, with emphasis on tactical and operating problems. Air Force concentration on Arctic problems would mean that at least three Allied military arms would be interested therein. The Canadian expedition, “Exercise Musk-ox.” which is a>t present halted about 400 miles north of Churchill because of stormy weather, will penetrate 300 miles into the Arctic Circle with the object nf testing vehicles, particularly the “Snowmobile,” originall" intended for the possible invasion of Norway. It Is an exercise in air supply, a study of Allied navigation and survey in regions where the normal magnetic compass is useless, an experiment with Arctic clothing made from textiles to prevent the killing of caribou for fur garments, aerial photography and training in making bivouacs and cooking food. The United States Air Force furnished the Canadian expedition with three large cargo nlanes, six gliders and 22 men, but it is emphasised that it is purely a Canadian project. The United States Navy sent a large carrier, Midway, io the Arctic to test conditions preparatory to full-scale manoeuvres, involving all types of shins, some time in 1947. The Midwav reported cm March 7, when off Greenland, that it was beginning to enter the iepberg region.