INTENSE ACTIVITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23479, 17 October 1939, Page 4

INTENSE ACTIVITY

FORTIFYING HAWAII

[ «A SECOND GIBRALTAR"

( MANY TROOPS DESPATCHED

Hawaii is rapidly becoming "a second and doublj' strong Gibraltar," according to Mr. J. Hardie Neil, wellknown Auckland surgeon, who has returned from Honolulu, where he attended a Pan-Pacific Surgical Congress. He said yesterday that huge sums were being spent- in naval and military expansion. > Mr. Hardie" Neil said that in every phase of defence, Honolulu was a hive of activity. For the extension of one aerodrome 12,000,000 dollars, were being spent, and Pearl Harbour and the naval dockyards were being enlarged to cope with a greatly increased number of vessels. Another division of 30 ships was shortly to be sent from the United States.

"Soldiers were everywhere, and barracks to accommodate the greatly increased -number of troops were being erected at a very rapid rate," he continued. "Troop ships were constantly arriving from the west coast of the continent, and one could not be but impressed at the high physical standard, general bearing and obvious training of the men. They were not toy soldiers —they were a fine type of fighting men." The intense fortification of Hawaii was an indication of the fact that the 'American, people realised that they would suffer a loss of face if Honolulu were threatened. It was obvious that they would not accept any interference in this area.