TRANS-PACIFIC AIR ROUTE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21729, 11 March 1936, Page 11

TRANS-PACIFIC AIR ROUTE

U.S. STEAMER FINISHES SURVEY I FORECAST OF EARLY SERVICE TO AUCKLAND (Received March 10, 7.41 p.m.) HONOLULU, March 9. ; Completing a year's aeronautical. \ study of equatorial islands, the coastj guard ! vessel Itasca has returned 'from Jarvis, Baker and Howland Islands, the reported new air route from Hawaii to New Zealand. Mr W. T. Miller, of the Commerce Department, foresees an early service from Honolulu to Palmyra or Kingman Island", Pago Pago, Suva, and Auckland. The Itasca was away for two months" and brought back Hawaiian boys. Observers state that Jarvis, Howland, and Baker Islands are not usable for seaplanes, -but will be "useful for radio beacons for land aeroplanes. -/ Air currents and temperatures at . various altitudes were recorded. The naval aerologist found Pago. Pago favourable, and better than Apia for a landing place. Nothing hinders the start of experimental flights. [Balcer/^Jarvis"and Howland Islands' were annexed by the United State? re--cently. "It?"'was stated? that-the intention was to use them .as bases for a trans-Pacific air service. The British Government which, it was understood, had some claim to sovereignty ' over the islands, made it clear that the title to them was not determinable and that there would be no attempt tr assert any claim] . '