ICE HOLDS UP RESCUE

Chronicle (Levin), 5 December 1949, Page 5

ICE HOLDS UP RESCUE

(N.Z.P.A-

-Reuter.

Move To Take Off fflarooned British Scientists

Copyrighti

Received Monday, 10.20 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 4. Snow and ice in the small harbour of Deception Island, in the Antarctic, are preventing unloading from the relief ship John Biscoe of a Norseman plane which is to fly 400 miles nearer the South Pole to Stonington Island to pick up the 11 British scientists stranded there, says Reuter's correspondent aboard the • John Biscoe. Everyone aboard the relief ship is 'watching every tide anxiously, because the rescue gear cannot •be got ashore until the waters are freed. When the unloading operations begin, an accompanying tanker, the Gold Ranger, will drop 400 barrels of aviation and diesel fuel into the water and float them to the land. A Canadian flying -officer, Peter St. Louis, a "bush" pilot accustomed to flying in Arctic conditions, is to fly the Norseman to the rescue of the scientists, five of whom have been marooned for two years and six for three years. An attempt will also be made to bring off from Stonington Island the Husky dogs, which have increased in numbers by breeding since they have been at the camp.