CANTON ISLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23037, 14 May 1938, Page 17

CANTON ISLAND

BRITISH AND AMERICAN CALL PAID BY NIAGARA the pacific air service PAN AMERICAN PROSPECTS [FROM OCR OWN* correspondent] . HONOLULU, May 2 The British and American joint occupation of Canton Island in tho Phoenix group is proceeding without undue incident. Captain William Martin, master of the Niagara, upon arrival in Honolulu this week reported that ho contacted with the British camp by radio-telo-phone and asked Mr. Frank Langdale, British deputy-commissioner in charge, whether anything was needed at Canton. "Hold the lino a minute, enptain, and I will ask the Americans. We are all right," said Sir. Langdale. In a minute Mr. Langdale was back with the information that the Americans were short of potatoes. Thereupon Captain Martin had the Niagara's carpenter build a solid raft and upon it were placed several sacks of potatoes, sealed benzine tins of fresh meat, fruit, vegetables, cakes and biscuits, and the latest newspapers and magazines. Flags Acknowledge Gifts This took place on the night of April 24. Captain Martin, ever considerate of his passengers, announced that the Niagara would bo off Canton at 7.30 a.m. on April 20.

Captain Martin stopped the Niagara and the raft with the valuable supplies was launched safely to the cheers of the men ashore, who dipped the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes in gratitude. Their camps were right on the beach within full sight of the Niagara. Thereupon Mr. Langdale, accompanied by one of the Americans, put off from the beach in an open boat and outboard motor. A Gilbert Islander, who is the British servant, manned the craft. They circled tho Niagara and answered a rapid fire of. questions from the thronged deck above. Then they made fast to the raft.and towed it into Canton's big lagoon, where it was eagerly surrounded bv the Americans.

The Niagara's visit to Canton, which is on the company's direct course from Suva to Honolulu, is a break in the monotony of equatorial life for the colonists. The Americans will be visited by a coastguard party from Honolulu only once in'three months. Radio telephone communication is maintained with Canton by" the Niagara and the Aorangi, on every voyage. Much Activity Evident

- Officers report that there is much activity on Canton. Several radio masts have been erected and concrete foundations, evidently for the bombproof underground stores of gasoline and drinking water," are being built. However, .details of this are being withheld at the request of the British and American authorities.

Tho two camps are together on the island. Tho Americans live in tents. -The British camp is substantial: all the huts arc of wood and there is a refrigeration house which allows large stocks of perishable foods, such as essential fruits and vegetables, to be maintained. The British are sharing all these "city comforts" with the Americans. The British, too, are helping the Americans in their construction work. An Early Announcement

Latest reports received from Washington indicate that there will be an announcement soon which will define how Canton will bo jointly controlled by the two Powers. Officials conferring in Washington have been, according to Associated Press despatches: Mr. J. P. Moffat, chief of tho European division of the State department; Mr. R. Walton Moore, under-secretary of State; Dr. Ernest J. Gruening, chief of the territories division of tho Department of the Interior;-.and Admiral William Leahy, chief of United States naval operations.

Mr. Frank McKcnzie, airport engineer for Pan American Airways, who in Auckland for some time, arrived in Honolulu to-day from San Francisco and is continuing to Pago * a go in the Monterey. Beyond this, Mr. McKonzio would nothing. It is thought hero that is to supervise tho movement of £ an American's main activities from Pago to either Pose Island, an American atoll 150 miles duo east of , a K° l'ago, or to Canton Island. It is Known that the company cannot use Pago harbour regularly for In Pi° r , °P° r! itions because of its allocked aspects, which render it flights at timCS for P asseDger:

■n an American, it has been reported, will use Pago Pago solely as a weather reporting base and a landfall for tho clippers, which then will swing out to Rose Island. Company officials, usually well informed, declare that Pose Island Mill bo used. It was surveyed from tho air by the late Captain Edwin Musick more than a year ago, • and Pan American have surveyed it by yacht. Mr. McKcnzie admits that Pose Island would make an ideal base, more in lino with tho company's route to Auckland than Canton. Moreover, it is much closer to Pago Pago. Tho company hopes to build up an air mail and express business from Auckland with Apia, via local steamer from Pago Pago. A fast surface vessel, like an ocean-going motor-launch, will maintain contact between Pago Pago and Hose Island. The company's schooner Trade Wind, which acted as station ship at Kingman's Pecf for the survey flights to Auckland by Captain Musick, is in Honolulu, and has been since tho disaster to the Samoan Clipper in January. Lately the Trade Wind has been loading supplies which are destined vaguely for "the south seas," according to Captain Halvor Mikkelmaster of the schooner. When the Trade Wind first came into the company's service last year it was announced that she would be used for training the air pilots in surface navigation within the Pacific, and as a supply ship for the company's bases on the Orient route, but this scheme seems to have fallen through. Latest information here about the new Boeing clippers is that the first will not be launched for tests for at least another month. The Boeing; company's announcement said that the first would be used for opening the American transatlantic service, which is tentatively set for August 1.