Evening star., 1947-01-26
5OO-Miie Ice Fence
Bars Ross Sea Path
To Antarctic Shore
By Thomas R. Henry
Sfor Stof Correspondent

ABOARU U.S.S. MI. OLYM-
PUS, Jan. 25.-Nature has built
a picket fence about $50 feet
high across the entrance to the
Ross Sea to keep trespassers
away from the forbidden Antarc-
tic Continent. This fence is a
string of icebergs 500 miles long
on about the 10th parallel of
South longitude.
Such is the explanation offered
here for the discouraging develop
ment that the summer breakup of
ice in the only good sea approach
to the continental shores is about
two months behind schedule.
The present pack is believed to be
about normal for late October,
early spring in the far South. 1t is
much greater than ever encountered
by ships before. 1t may force some
curtailment otthe expeditions plans
because flash freeze in a single
night might make the ice almost
impenetrable for returning ships,
with the now floating blocks con-
solidated into hard mass.
Drifting for Many Years.
The old theory is ice breeds ice"
No evidence has been discovered of
major weather change, but ex-
ceptional concentration of great
bergs in front of the pack prevents
escape of foe ice northward into
the warmer Pacific.
1t is believed these bergs were
drifting for many years before get
ting into the present picket fence
condition. Here in the Bay of
Whales, berg fighting is like ma
neuvering with hostile battleships.
A fairyland miniature of the Jura
Mountains of Switzerland covering
an area of about five square miles
with 1,500-foot high peaks of lumi-
nous blue ice has been found by DR..
Arthur Howard of Washington,
geological survey expert with the
expedition, on an ice shelf near the
Bay of Whales.
1t is a weird wonderland due to
endure about four more years when
the pressure from the east will push
1t into the sea. Then 1t will drift
north as a group of fantastic ice
bergs. 1t probably already has last
ed about 10 years.
Built Like Swiss Mountains.
DR.. Howard, who has made geo.
logical studies in the Juras, says
the resemblance is uncanny and, If
enduring, these blue Antarctic cliffs
would be one of the worlds greatest
wonders. 1t was built by the same
process as the Swiss mountains but
in less than a generation.
The geologiSts seek specimens Of
ice from various positions for micro
scopic study in Washington to de-
termine the different degrees of de-
formation under pressure which
would be about the same as that un-
dergone by rocks in the making of
a mountain anywhere in the world.
The region, however, is one Of the
most perilous in the Antarctic, safe
to enter only by four men walking
in single file and roped together.
1t is full Of deep, hidden crevasses
covered by light snow bridges, max
ing necessary step-by-step progress
and constant probing ahead with
pixies. The region is enveloped most
days in the Antarctic's weird white
darkness which hides ice walls ahead
until one bumps his head. The way
is also blocked by ice ridges so feet
high, which can be crossed easily
only with special glacier climbing
equipment. q H 4
DR.. HoWard's original plan was toI
have himself lowered into creyasses
by rope and chip specimens from
different layers of the walls. The
work is so perilous that Rear Ad-i
miral Richard H. Cruzen, task force
commander, is reluctant to give his
permission.
Fierce Sea Leopards.
Among the luminous mountains
lurk fierce sea leopards, f1esh-eat-
ing seals which can waddle on flip
pers as fast as an average man can
run. A man alone would have little
chance of escape over the crevassed
ice unless he killed his pursuer with
q first lucky shot. One sea leopard
shot by Capt. G. F. Kosco for the
Smithsonian Institution started to
give chase with gnashing teeth until
felled by bullet in the neck. This
was an old female with decayed
teeth who may have crawled on the
ice to die.
The lonely death trek of big seals
10 end their lives among the ice
mountains is one of the Antarctic
legends. They ordinarily live on
the ice edge near open water where
they can catch fish and penguins.
But they are sometimes seen far
inland where there is no food, mov-
ing steadily forward alone.
The theory is that old bulls, feel
ing the infrmities of age, must
escape from the seal pack or be
killed by younger bulls. If their
flight is into the water, they are
certain victims of the killer whales.
Their only escape is landward and
they must move along or other bulls
will kiII them They eventually die