CROWD WAITING; HOVERCRAFT ARRIVES; EXPEDITION SIGN ON HOVERCRAFT; CROWD ROUND HOVERCRAFT; PRESIDENT TOMBALBAYE HELPED ABOARD AND SEATED IN HOVERCRAFT.




Initials AH/VS/PN/OS



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Background: THE HISTORIC TRANS-AFRICAN HOVERCRAFT EXPEDITION -- MOUNTED BY AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM ABOARD A 10-TON BRITISH HOVERCRAFT -- RECEIVED AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION WHEN IT REACHED FORT LAMY, CHAD, LAST FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 28). THE CHEERING CROWD WATCHED PRESIDENT FRANCOIS TOMBALBAYE GO ABOARD THE HOVERCRAFT.

THE EXPEDITION IS CROSSING 5,000 MILES (8,000 KILOMETRES) OF WEST AFRICA, INCLUDING DENSE JUNGLE, SWAMPS AND AREAS PREVIOUSLY UNEXPLORED.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPENETRABLE REGIONS IS THE LAND OF FLOATING GRASSES SOUTH OF LAKE CHAD, AN UNEXPLORED AREA TOO SHALLOW FOR NAVIGATION BY BOAT AND TOO TREACHEROUS TO NEGOTIATE ON FOOT. THE LAKE CHAD DISTRICT, IS REGARDED AS A KEY DEVELOPMENT AREA, WITH RESOURCES AS YET VIRTUALLY UNTAPPED.

SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICIANS AMONG THE 26 MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION WILL BE STUDYING NATURAL RESOURCES, WILDLIFE, AND THE POSSIBILITIES OF USING THE HOVERCRAFT TO COMBAT DISEASES.

PRESIDENT TOMBALBAYE INSPECTED THE HOVERCRAFT IN COMPANY WITH MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE RULING PROGRESSIVE PARTY.