Evening star., 1952-12-07
African Trip
FuScinuteS
GeoIogist
Anna Jesperson
Was Delegate
To Conqress
By Jessie Font Evons

ing JaunGS Oh the Appalachian 1Ta1
Club, probably did not have any
more new and strange experiences
than this Goth century descendant
of theirs as one of the II geolo-
giSts designated by the United
States Geological Survey as off,
cial delegates from this country
to the 10Th International Geolog-
ical Congress held in Algiers.
Editor OF the Geologic Division
Of the United States Geological
Survey, she went on field excur-
sions with many Of the worlds top
notch geologists, including those
from Russia. Since six of her Geo.
logical Survey associates were
women. it was gratifying to them
to have a 20 per cent femininel
representation among the dele
gates present.
THE science Of geology, with
its far-reaching service to hui
manity in the development Of
water, coal, iron, oil, the phos-
phates and many, many other |
examples of the earth's great |
natural resources is of constantly
increasing interest to the people |
Of every land" Miss Jespersenl
emphasized. The time has long
since passed when biologists are
thought of simply as collectors
of rock specimens, even by the
most elementary lay minds" she
said.
While the official council meet
ings Of the congress were held
in the attractive modern build
tngs Of the University of Algiersl
with its beautifully Handicapped
grounds. intensive and SometimesI
rugged field trips of two weeks
preceded and followed the sessions.
The field excursions to TuniSia
and Morocco were based on al
Mediterranean ship, with buses to
meet the delegates, usually atI
$50 am. and convey them back
to the ship at nightfall. Then
the ship would move on during
the night to the next port Of call.
THE section of North Africa
which comes down to the Medi-
terranean is geologically a con-
tinuation of the continent of
Europe" Miss Jespersen reminded.
1T is not until one gets to the
high Atlas Mountains that one
gets into what Is geologically the
continent Of Africa"
AS an American she was proud
OF the chain of airfields our q. 8.
Army Engineers are building inI
Africa, the most extensive opera
tions ever undertaken by this
corps.
1t was thrill, too, to visit the
headquarters Of the Foreign Le-
gion at Bel Abbes in Morocco.
Here she saw first hand the base
of the famous LegionnaireS that
had fired her Imagination a. al
girl in the graphic story. "Underl
Two Flags" -. i
In Tunisia, while the people arel
friendly, It was her impressionl
that the higher classes are suspi-
cious Of Americans and Of Amer
tcan policy. This she was led tol
believe Is because Tunisia. despite
the fact that we are the most pow
erful democracy In the world, feelsI
uncertain Of our moral support Of
the smaller nations In their
struggle to become self-deter-l
inmate.
One Of the most exciting ad-
ventures in which she was involved
with 56 other delegates was anl
unexpected stay of two nights atI
an isolated French army post be-
tween Ourzazate and Teroudantl
on the river Sous in Morocco.
When the expeditions bus driver
saw the rivers raging torrent at
a crossing ford, he wisely refused
to try it lest he share the fate
Of an upturned truck. Then he
headed for the French garrison. |
Although its patrol setup is |
such that it would ordinarily not
see strangers In its midst for
months on end, we were welcomed |
as graciously as If we were ex-
pected guests. served hot minted
tea, assigned sleeping quarters
and served three meals q day, |
chiefly their own fare. "kouskous. |
This is basic native food con-
sisting Of a mixture of ground
grain, lamb and vegetables" Anna
JeSpersen related.
AS soon as the French officersl
agreed the Sous was again ford
able. they sent the delegates overl
in the posts Chevrolet truck with
a diminutive, bare-footed Arab
driver at the wheel. He brought
them safely to the other side Of
the bank with loud cheers Of
Bravo" as their empty bus with
its driver followed suit. far from
as skillfully.
While we subsequently were
entertained Sumptuously in the
palaces of the governor generals !
of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia |
amid almost unbelievable splen-
dor, along with our memories Of
these splendid occasions. will al
ways linger those Of the French
citadel set amid q desolate coun- |
try, where in our extremity the |
strangers within their midst were
given shelter and food. And it,
too. was the best they had" Anna |
Jespersen commented feelingly.
THE crying need in all the
lands we visited upon our field
trips is water" she declared. Many |
times the field groups saw people |
coming from distances as great
as five miles in the farming coun-
try that would bloom like the pro-
e. verbal rose if there were irriga-
tion-to fill the utensils they car
ried upon their heads with just a |
little Of the precious water from
q community well.
"Our United States resources
and our American engineers with
their know-how based upon geo.
logical knowledge as to where the |
NrJofa,s ltae cNv,an lax, H. a1.I~