FANNING ISLAND'S PLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 215, 9 September 1914, Page 6

FANNING ISLAND'S PLIGHT.

THE STATION PROBABLY DESTROYED. LATE RESIDENT'S OPINION. \ "What has .happened at Fanning Is- ] land?" The question was put by a , "Star" representative this morning to ] Mr. ( . H. Hertslet. New Zoalond Super- , intendent of the Pacific table Board. , Apparently the officials are to be left , in doubt concerning the fate of the Fan- i ning Island station until the cable ship , Iris, with a suitable convoy, can reach < the cable station and ascertain just , what is the extent of the damage done. j All that Mr. Hertslct knows is that com- ) munication north of Suva has now , ceased. The last messages received yes- ( terday morning from the Superinten- ) dent at Fanning Island read: —3.15 a.m.: 1 "Large steamer a.pproaching. probably 1 Nurnbcrg." 4.25 a.m.: "Large three- 1 funnel man-o'-war, flying I'rcneh flag, s Am going off to iber." After 6 a.m. all communication ceased. Asked whether he thought if feasible that not only would the cable be cut. but the station sit Fanning Island destroyed, Mr. Hertslet said he thou<rht | it quite conceivable. It was hardly j likely, in fact, that the Germans would | be content to just pick up the cable and cut it, for its renewal would in- | volve only a matter of a few hours" | work, whereas the destruction of the | station itself would be quite another I matter. Mr. Hertslet spent two and a half years in charge of the lonely , Fanning Island station. It is a typical Pacific atoll, being in reality a palmclad coral reef, encircling a salt water lagoon. It is about 11 milcis long, and five miles wide, and from its shape is known by the natives as "the place of the heavenly footstep." Panning Island is two thousand miles from anywhere, and in order to grow flowers and vegetables ihe authorities have had to import soil from New Zealand and elsewhere. The buildings on Fanning Island are of considerable value. They consist almost lentirdy of concrete, and provide I for staff of about .10 people. , When asked if it would be possible for , a German boat to shell the station. Mr. Herlslet replied (that it would be quite an easy matter. The biggest ships could anchor in Whalers' Bay. and at a distance of only 500 yards' blow the station buildings out of existence if they so desire,l. At it* highc.-t point Fanning Island is only Oft above (high-water mark, and the station buildings, valued at 1:40.000, P .tand out clearly and distinctly to the ocean view. Even presuming that the Germans have not only cut the cable, but destroyed the station equipment. Mr. ' Hertslet says it. should not lie an impossible undertaking for the cable ship I Iris to make temporary repairs almost I as soon as she arrives. If the dup.ex system has been destroyed the position will he more troublesome, but even so the experts on the Iris should succeed in re-establishing communication of some sort soon after arrival. At present the Iris is at Suva. Mr. Hertslet thinks the cable ship will first proceed to Norfolk Island, and do some neee.-.-ary »ork there, alter which she will sail for Fanning Island.