IMPERIAL ASPECT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22955, 5 February 1938, Page 15

IMPERIAL ASPECT

LONG-RANGE FLYING IMPORTANCE OF PACIFIC , - V'C.iiV". :• ■ Jan. The importance to the Empire of llrie proposed flight to Australia m ' the -9ar]y spring of three Vickers , Welltelfiy : bombers, -with only one stoty i»-ii» attempt to achieve a < long-distariije non-stop record, and the bearing of tli® flight on ; future air defence plains; are emphasised by competent observers. Mr. Ward Price, commenting in' tije Daily Mail on the flight of 18' American naval bombers from San Diego to Honolulu to strengthen the Pearl Harbour (Hawaii) -air base, emphasises the importance, of .the small islands In the Pacific. The writer adds ; that, although Britain has not such a direct in the Pacific as the two. Powers wljose mainlands'confront it on the east and west, the. defence of Australia and New Zealand and British interest? in the Far East are leading to a tardy, development of Britain's aerial forces there. "Singapore is the main' British air base on the fringe of the Pacific, and steps are being taken to develop the triangle between Singapore, Hongkong and Darwin into an area where the British Air Forces can operate' within reasonable reach of refuelling and repairing stations. "Thus the Pacific Ocean already resembles a great chessboard on aither side of which the contestants are pushing forward pawns in the form of isolated aerial units. : "Soon these .will' be followed up by mighty air fleets. Then' the gamai will grow critical."