Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-04
By ARTHUR sCHOLES

North American Newspaper Alliance
SYDNEY, Sept. 4.-Unitet
States and Australian scientists
aboard the submarine Tele-
machus are engaged in an 5000
mile scientific survey of the bed
of the South Pacific Ocean.
This is the first time such q
mission has been undertaken
Scientists will conduct an ocean
gravity survey, and will chart
the ocean bed with special
equipment.
The survey. besides producing
information for mariners, will
yield valuable knowledge about
the composition and structure
OF the earth's crust.
To make the necessary OBJ
servations the Telemachus Is
submerging in localities about
so miles apart. Information 1,
then recorded on delicately
balanced instruments. The sub.
marine is making observation:
at a depth unaffected by winds
waves. currents or any other
forces. The submarine ION sta
ton" is as motionless as it Il
possible for any project to bt
under the sea.
Eerie Silence Prevails
Except for the slow, soft
speech Of the officers and men
an eerie silence prevails as the
submarine hangs suspended be.
tween the waters surface anc
the strange, UNEMPLOYED level Of
the seabed.
The submarines cruise begar
recently in blaze Of publicity
Telemachus was two hours late
sending a routine signal to it.
base the day after leaving here
Six ships. a sister submarine
and aircraft were altered. Foul
Sydney radio stations broadcast
appeals for crewmen on leay,
to return to their ships. At the
time Of its silence, Telemachu:
was $50 miles southeast nj
Sydney.
A belated message received
through Darwin radio explained
heavy seas had prevented the
submarine from sending the rou.
tine surfacing signal earlier.
The Telemachus now is cruis.
ing in the Tasman Sea and viii
visit other parts of the South
Pacific.
Suggested Survey
The proposal that a submarine
survey should be made of tn,
South Pacific Ocean was frs
made by DR.. L. v. Berkner, pres.
ident Of Associated Universities
Inc. of New York, who suggested
to the geology and geophysic,
branch Of the Australian Bureau
Of Mineral Resources that the
Australian government and the
Lamont Geological Observatory
OF New York, should Cooperate
in conducting a survey in thu
vicinity of Australia and New
Zealand.
DR.. Berkner emphasized tina
a submarine would be requires
and asked whether the Austral.
ian government would provid,
one. Telemachus, a British sub.
marine based with the Austral
ian Navy In Sydney. was mad,
available through the admiralt,
in London.
The principal instrument be
ing used aboard the submarin,
is the Vening Meinesz pendu
lum, which is so finely adjustet
1t gives results accurate to one
millionth Of an inch. From tn,
instrument scientists can pro
duce graphs and drawings which
indicate the nature of the earth
crust beneath the submarine
and also get some idea of tn
rock or mineral of which it i
comprised.
Expect Vital Information
The survey is expected to yielt
vital information about the vas
potential source Of energ,
beneath the earth'S surface.
Scientists have long know
that volcanoes are the earth
safety valves. but they have onl,
recently begun to utilize thei
tremendous power for industria
purposes.
Tremendous pressure is gen
Grated ESQ miles below the earth
surface. II the plug is suddenl,
forced out, a witch's cauldron /