The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-08-03
AIRWAYSCIVE
PACIFIC ISLES
HIGHER VALUE
u. S. Holdings Gain I'm
portance from Stand
point of Defense
BY ED MORGAN .
limited Press Staff Correspondent


HONOLULU, August 8. (UP).
The completion of far flung
American-owned islands in the
mid-Pacific is changing today
fastened by two distinct lntlu,
encecs: trans-ocean aviation and
national defense.
Midway. Wake, Guam, French
Frieate Shoals, and other tufts
of land sprinkled between Ha-
wall and the Orient which once
were of doubtful value have
found new an dimportant use as
emergency air bases for COM
mercial travel and as potential
fortified outposts In event OF
war.
Association of trans oceanic
air travel and national defense
is paradoxical. The first envl-
sages more closely knit interna-
tional relations through new
aerial routes from nation to ma
ton. The second carries the
reality of preparedness against
international conflict.
NEW SETTLEMENTS
THRIVING
Both will work amazing changes
on these desoltaed islands. Al
ready Pan-American Always set
Elements are thriving on Midway,
Wake and Guam. :,
Midway, once a lonely cable
station, now has the nucleus OF
"a miniature city. Never before
has Wake been inhabited for any
period of time. The Pan-Amerl-
can base there will be permanent.
Men are landscaping the dunes
and nursing shrubs and trees to
make the spot more picturesque
for Clipper plane travellers en-
route to Manila and Canton,
China.
1t is no secret that the navy
has surveyed these islands in de-
tail to measure their capacity
for Notifications and emergency
landing areas for fighting planes.
MIDWAY LAGOON TESTED
Facilities of the Midway lagoon
were tested this spring when AZ
naval seaplanes from Pearl Har-
Dor landed there to deploy in
Pacific fleet maneuvers. Both
naval and Pan-American officials
have attested to the natural fit
ness of French Fragate Shoals, a
strip of land about 500 miles
northwest of Hawaii, for landing
of seaplanes.
Significantly one of the provi-
sions in the agreement granting
Pan-American Always the use
of Midway. Wake and Guam
calls for their reversion to the
navy in an emergency. -,
With Pan-American's rental
line virtually ready for service,
observers are looking southwark
where another necklace of coral
atolls stretches out toward Samoa
and the Antipodes, affording
emergency bases for the next
projected trans-Pacific route
from America to Australia.
Along the Honolulu-Pago Page
segment of this route lie several
American owned islands which
may become bustling bases in the
South Seas.
SOVEREIGNTY IN DOUBT
Among them are Baker, How
land and Jarvis Islands. Sover-
eighty of these islands is indef-
mite, but it is believed the Uni
ted States could claim them
without international difficulties.
Army and navy experts here
are privately drawing parallels
between these islands and Japa-
nese inundated islands.
These South Sea islands also
could be equipped as refueling
stations, submarine outposts and
emergency landing points for sea-
planes.
Although the present survey is
for commercial planes,
the navy would have access to all
material gathered, and in fact
the navy already has explored
the islands possibilities to some
extent.