Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-06
USUAL PACIFIC AIR
ROUTE FOG-B0UND
National Geographic Society
Describes Probable Pas
sage of Lindberghs.

Alaska's island hedged inland pas
sage, the Aleutian chain, Kamchatka,
the Kurile Islands and 'Japan-these
are the stepping stones that the Ling
berghs will use in crossing from Amer
lea to the Orient, II they follow the
usual North Pacific airplane route. says
q bulletin from the National Geographic
Society.
THE thousands Of islands Of AlaSkas
southeastern panhandle are rugged
and offer few places suitable for land
planes to alight," continues the bulletin.
But for the plane equipped with pom
toons there are innumerable resting
places in bays and coves Harbors with
gasoline supplies are available at
number of ports in this section of
Alaska, including Ketchikan, Sitka and
Juneau.
Eastward across the Gulf OF Alaska,
Kodiak Village, OH Kodiak Island. fur-
nisheS the last possible base before the
beginning of the long crescent sweep OF
the Aleutian Islands, which extend ior
1900 miles almost 10 the peninsula OF
Kamchatka, eastern outpost OF the
Soviet Union.
Many Unlnhabited Islands.
I'm winging their way westward above
the AleutianS, Col and Mrs. Lindbergh
will be back-tracking an important mi
other even more important prehistoric
migrations that brought to the New
World the torbears Of the American
Indians.
After the survivors of Behring'S dis
covery voyage to Alaska III l743 fe-
turned to Kamchatka, Russian adVen-
turerS poured into the Islands Ill search
Of furs, exploiting, enslaving and kill
ing the natives Few survived, and
since that day the islands have been
sparSely settled, many vi them unln-
6abited
1T was because they were opened up
from the east that the Islands are
known as the Aleutians. The name Is
derived from that VI Kamchatkan
cape.
although the Alutians are as far
north as Central Canada their climate
Is not severely cold. Rather they may
be said to be always chilly, damp and
foggy. Fog Is anything but ali asset
to the flyer: but the Aleutian fog has
the good point, at least. OF being less
dense than the fog OF more southern
lands.
Dutch HarbOr Important.
"Dutch Harbor, Unalaska, Is the first
harbor Of Importance In the Islands.
This deep, land-locked harbor Is one
of the finest Ill the North and has
played an important part as way
station for ships during the gold PUSHES
to the Yukon and To Nome. 1t is con-
nected with the rest OF the world by
q radio station. Dutch Harbor Is OH
the shortest route from Seattle 10 Toxic,
and with the establishment OF coaling
stations may conceivably become such
a Pacific way station for the northern
route as Honolulu Is for the southern
"Atka, several hundred miles farther
nct &c -
house Of the Aleutian chain and OH
it is the last settlement but one west
of the mainland. NaZ2n Bay, which
gives an excellent harbor to Aka, Is
often clear Of fog when it hangs heaV-
lily outside There is a government
school in the little village OH the inner
harbor but no post Office, and the only
connection with Dutch Harbor IS
through occasional small trading
schoonerS.
After Atka is passed the islands for
500 miles westward are uninhabited
Then comes Attu. the last OF the Aleu-
t1ans, the WeStenmoSt bit Of land at all
connected with the American Continent
over which the Stars and Stripes wave
This little outpost Of America is beyond
the l8Oth degree OF longitude. and so Is
technically in the Eastern Hemisphere
The international date line has been
bulged out around 1t. however, so that
all the AleutianS are included In the
same time system.
Kuriles Fog Covered.
"Kamchatka. where Eastern Hemi-
sphere territory will be reached, is q
smaller and much less valuable version
OF Alaska. The northern portion Of the
peninsula and the region farther north
Is bleak tundra. In the south are tim
bered mountains. The most important
port Is PetropavloVSk in the south.
Along the southern rivers are semi
civilized natives living In log towns.
The Kurile Islands, last stage OF the
Journey before Japan Is reached. are
fog enshrouded like the Aleutians. They
are string OF volcanic peaks, dead and
alive. Yetorofu, largest of the Kuriles.
has Japanese settlement. The natives,
who sparsely populate the isles, are
Anus. strange race of brown and
hairy individuals. Many Anus still live
in holes burrowed in the ground and
hunt in primitive fashion,"