Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-11-28

something less Cuan - n
by the National Science Foun
to research scientists. More IL
Navy for logistic support of
the scientific effort.
One cannot avoid being
struck by the incongruity of o
SIS million tail decorating
and inevitably wagging-a So
million dog.
The question Immediately
arises: Is the United States
getting its moneys worth in
the pursuit Of scientific knowl-
edge on the great South Polar
continent? It is this writer's
impression. based on converse
tions. interviews and observa-
tons both in Antarctica and
here, that it is not.
Planning Needed d.
This Is not to say that no
scientific work is being done
there. On the contrary, a fair
amount Of very good work is
going on. But the best balance
between logistic support and
primary scientific mission has
not yet been achieved. A great
deal more profitable research
work could be done with prac-
tically no increase in logistic
costs.
There is one thing lacking,
however, and that Is a long
range plan for Americas effort
there. This country has ratified
q treaty affirming its scientific
interest In Antarctica through
out the rest Of this century. But
there is not the vaguest shred
OF a plan as to what direction
scientific inquiry will take, even
through the rest Of this decade.
The responsibility for an
overall plan for Antarctic re-
search lies in Washington. It is
not the job of Rear Admiral
David M. Tyree, as task force
director, to lay out this plan:
it Is his job to support scien-
tific effort financed by the Ma
tional Science Foundation.
Nor can Admiral Tyree's SUI
periors at the Navy Department
in Washington prescribe a pro-
gram for Antarctica. And even
the National Science Founda-
ton, which finances individual
research projects. is not the
proper agency to make and en-
force a long-range plan. This
Is a Government-wide respon-
sibility which must be met at
the top levels Of the admins
tration in concert with the ap-
propriate committees of Con-
gress. A policy for the scientific
exploitation Of the solar CONT
hCAA0 10 AcQulICO.
Missing the Boat
In the absence Of a co-ordi-
mated plan for Antarctica, it
would appear that the Govern
ment Is missing q number Of
scientific opportunities. AS q
single example: - ......s -.
Within a decade or so, Ameri-
cans may attempt to colonize
the moon for scientific explora-
ton (and perhaps for military
purposes). Though it leaves a
lot to be desired as a lunar sub
stitute. Antarctica in its isola-
ton, vaStness and hostility to
man has many of the unpleas-
ant features Of the moon. A
long-range plan for Antarctica
might well include a Space
Agency or Air Force project to
build and operate a model
lunar base.
On q more down-to-earth |
plane, the absence of con-
tinuity in planning is costing
the country money. A concrete
example is the use of airplanes
for lifting large quantities of |
equipment into Antarctica.
According to Brig. Gen.
Andrew B. Cannon, 58-year-old
commander of the Air Forces
SD Troop Carrier Wing, CHA
airplanes of his command will
handle 1850 tons of cargo into
and within Antarctica in the
10-week airlift season now
under way. Exactly how much
Of this cargo could be carried
more cheaply and efficiently by
ship is anyone's guess. but the
proportion would be substantial.
Cheaper by Ship
There Is no guesswork about |
the cost of lifting cargo to Nc
Murdo Sound from outside. On
the basis of a $3.50 hourly OPP
Grating cost for the CHA in |
the area south of Christchurch,
New Zealand, it costs about q |
dollar to move a pound of use
full cargo from New Zealand
$500 miles to McMurdo. During |
the surface shipping season,
which begins next month after
the airlift season closes, this
same cargo could be delivered
by ship at a tiny fraction of the
cost.
Some experts believe that if
logistic planning were done two
years in advance instead of one,
as at present, the Christchurch-
McMurdo airlift could be re-
duced by 80 per cent. If this
is correct, something like 50
million-nearly Is per cent of
the total logistic support cost
is being spent unnecessarily
simply because long range
planning is lacking.
But better short-range plan
ming is needed, too. AS an
example of a deficiency in this
department, the case of a tenn
porary camp at Williams Air