The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-11
EXPLORER BYRD RACES WITH NAZIS
Minerally Rich South Polar Areas Are Sought By
 Both Countries
BY GARDNER FROST United Press Staff COrreSponder

(Unlted Press Stan COrreSp0ndent)
 Boston, Oct. 11.-(UP).-A race with Nazi scientists for minerally- rich South Polar areas loomed to- day as Rear-Admiral Richard E. Byrd strove to coordinate the great est Antarctic expedition in history
 The expedition expects to leave here November 1, reaching the Ant arctic when harbors are ice-free and before parties reported organizing in Germany and other foreign countries"
 Byrd'S will be the second govern ment-sponsore6 South Polar expedi- tion in a century-the first having been under the direction of Lieuten- ant Charles Wilkes.
 Already the U. s. s. Bear, pur- chased from Byrd for $1 by the gov ernment, has had a 00-horsepower Diesel motor installed.
 The Barkentine-rigged North Star which has been in Alaskan service will arrive soon for reconditioning Together they will make the Ill., 000-mile cruise from Boston through the Panama canal, across the south ern Pacific to tre mystical, ice- bound, 50-below-zero area common ly termed Little America" Scientific Surveys
 The explorers intend to make scientific surveys of weather, cli- mate and mineral deposits, and to roughly survey an unclaimed, wedge shaped area, the outer edge of which is 1,500 miles of ice-encrusted ocean shore-its narrowest point the South Pole 1000 miles inland. All this will give the state department the right to claim the area for the United States.
 The expedition totals 125 men, 160 dogs and 5000 items srom pa- per clips to pre-fabricated houses. It is costing the taxpayers $350 ,000 and expedition leaders hope for ad- ditional congressional appropriations allowing relief parties to carry on the work for two or three years. Byrd reportedly will not remain with the 60 men who will live on the i.e from January 1940 to May, 1941. He may direct landing operations, then return to warmer waters with the ships until they revisit the explorers.
 Has Good Equipment
 Scientifically the group have the latest equipment including five air. planes, three army tanks and a giant $l50,0 snowmobile, 19 feet wide, rolling on 10-foot wheels or huge runners and carrying an arp1ane and four men.
 A police escort will bring 1t here from Chicago, halting traffic on highways in 2O-mile stretches until the machine has passed.
 Statistically the expedition cuts quite 8 figure.
 There are 60 Alaskan fur parkas on hand. There are scores of mittens boxes of underwear designed by a red flannel era stylist.
 Two navy tailors are turning out lightweight, Egyptian-cotton parkas and tents in brilliant crimsons blues, greens, yellows and white. Already purchased are 67OOC pounds of beef. mutton, lamb and pork--enough to feed the average family for half-a-century. Six thou sand pounds of dried beans will be taken--two tons or the canned va riety. There will be 25 tons of flour but only 1900 pounos of potatoes since dehydrated French fried anc mashed potatoes are being taken ir cans. here will be 5000 pounds oi eggs and egg powder-2.000 pounds of powdered milk equal to about 16,. 900 quarts.
 150,000 Food Rations
 There will be 8 total of 150,OO( rations of food--a ration beins enough to supply one man 30 days Two doctors have prepared special pemmican, fats and cereals ground together. It gives body heat anc tastes like cold sausage meat.
 Tons of dehydrated fruits, vege- tables, candy and tobacco are among supplies as well as some 800 books and 900 magazines to while away the midnight months fro mApril tl July.
 Dr. Paul A. Siple, Erie. Pa, vet eran of two previous Byrd expedi. tions will be in charge of west base len the l50th meridian at Little Am.
 Eica Richard '. Black, interior department field representative, vii will command east base in Alexandel land on the 80th Meridian about 1000 miles southeast nf Cane Born