The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-30
BY MARSHAL D. SHULMAN NEA Service Correspondent.

6x MARSHALL ID. ShULtMAN
 NEA Service Correspondent. Boston, Oct. 30--A lot of people want to visit the South Pole to Judge by the flood of mail into the head
 quarters of the Second U. 8. Ant arctic Expedition here, but not many people know why the United States, for the second time in a hundred years, is going to give the Antarctic an official once-over. To thousands of people of all ages, the trip apparently sounds like a lark-but to the Government this expedition is serious business. There are at least three important reasons why, early in November, 125 men under the command of Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd will be on their way to this mystery land of penguins and blizzards-to remain until the Spring of 194l. First of all, there's the matter of land-claiming.
 The United States has never rec ognized the claims of any other country to the Antarctic, nor has it ever made a claim on the basis, of the previous trips of Lincoln Ells- worth and Admiral Byrd. Just in case the Antarctic might turn out to be valuable Gas Alaska did, to al- most everyone's surprise) it seems to be good idea to get in on the ground floor.
 And so the Expedition is going to set up 8 more-or-less temporary residence, on the basis of which the State Department in Washington may subsequently, assert claim. An earlier report that Little Arn- erica, made familiar to Americans by Admiral Byrd's last trip, was to be given up has not been confirmed by Expedition leaders.
 EXPECT MUCH
 OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST The second purpose of the expe- dition is scientific.
 On the basis of its observations, the expedition hopes to shed some light on the mystery of weather. Expedition leaders are convinced that Antarctic observation posts will make 1t possible some day to fore cast accurately weather in the South Pacific area--a matter of themendous importance to airlines and naval authorities.
 Biology, bactefiology. meteorology and geology are some of the scienc- es expected to benefit from the ex- petition. The clarity of the atmos- phere will make possible a careful study of meteors. And because cos mic rays Lombard the earth with greater intensity ill this area, they too will be in favorable condition for study. Regular observations will be taken of the Aurora Australis, southern sister to the Aurora Bo- realiS.
 In his last trip, Admiral Byrd found quantities of coal which, though not commercially valuable, suggest that interesting fossils may be found, or such minerals as vana- dium, iridium or radium. Apart from any commercial significance of such findings, they will be of inter- est as relics of a time when balmy weather may have ruled the Antarc- tic.
 The expedition will also carry on medical studies, testing the effect of extra low temperatures on the human body. Men seem to be much healthier in the Antarctic, although they recover from wounds and ill., ness more slowly, perhaps because of the energy required to keep, warm. . EVERYTHING IS DONE FOR MEMS COMFORT a
 The third important purpose of this trip is to solve the largest geo. graphical question mark on the globe. There are a thousand miles of Antarctic coast-line still unchar- ted which, when mapped out, may form the basis of this country's claim. This work will be done by dog sled teams, with the possible help of airplanes or ships.
 There isn't going to be any Alone" this time, Admiral Byrd says, referring to his seven-month solitary stay at Advance Base dur-