Big Icebox

ARMY & NAVY

After five weeks of exploring the wastes of Antarctica,* Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd was back in Washington. Though most Americans were surprised to see him home so soon, a small crowd of crew relatives, reporters and top Navy brass stood in a drizzle to watch the intrepid Admiral debark from the polar flagship, U.S.S. Mount Olympus.

To reporters, Admiral Byrd denied that he had asked the U.S. to stake claims in Antarctica, and refused to say whether he would do so now. He politely pooh-poohed its strategic value, either for military operations or for the minerals it contained, but pointed out that the 1,700,000 square miles the expedition had explored would make a wonderful icebox for storing the world's food supplies.

While the Admiral listed the expedition's training, mapping and scientific accomplishments, sailors and river police in motor boats began a wild pursuit of eight penguins that had dashed into the Potomac when their crate hit the dock and split open. At nightfall, three penguins were still at large.

* The Navy's polar task force (Operation High Jump) left for Antarctica Dec. 2. Byrd joined it Jan. 30.

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