The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-03-01
Hawaii Sees
Big Transition
Isl0nds Crossrood
OF New Air World


r~~<- Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
HON0LuLli-These islands
hear the drone and rush OF
high powered airplanes day
and night. but air transport
to the mainland sometimes
has . Today gap between &C.
eurences. Men who have
made the flight at present
the longest regular service
over water anywhere in the
world speak of il with en-
thusiasm even at the present
commercial speed. The pros
pect of becoming a crossroads
point in world air development
ia well fixed in their minds.
but few know that il is an
objective of the present war.
In 1855 this writer had the
privilege Of discussing with dis
tinruished Enelishmen the plan
fora worldwide air service con-
frolled jointly by London and
Washington.
80 Control Limited
The British. successful In their
development Of plans created dur
ing Queen Elizsbeth's reign.
were clesr-hesded SIX Year, ago
about the limitations OF continu-
ing control OF the sea. some Of
their leaders faced the fact that
hsttleships costing twelve TO four
teen million pounds sterling could
Theoretically then. practically IN
the near future-be sunk BY a
group IL bombers costing perhs ps
one million pounds. Being the
worlds greatest bettors and tn.
shrswdest judges of odds. the per-
csntaees held no appeal. They
knew that ~arship development
was cloee To the end OF its alpha
bet. while the new cir arm was
At the very A B c OF its future.
The plans envisssed called for
capital and technical resources
beyond those of the British En-
pire. II he Y. =. A. would 20
along nothing was Impossible. but
al discussions must remain off the
record until one year after the
Inevitable" war should break out
Then. with reservations ~ to
names. the story could be told.
lsiasd In Evolution
The recent ninety-nine year
Leases of British territory in the
Western Hemisphere were well
eamouflaged behind discussion OF
the cranky and ohsoleseent des-
troyers which Great Britain polite
" took off our navy's neck. In
the name Of defense we are well
IN our way toward equipping these
spcta with vast air fields and their
appurtenancea- The fields even
fually viii become part OF the
planned commercial setup. Unless
Americans had been steamed up
n . picture Of Hitler and Hitlers
hordes walking ON the waters TO
attack us. the funds for this great
adventure might have been impos-
sibls 10 obtain.
Hawaii now has In ,,se one Of
thu. worlds greatest military air
zelda n 10 about To be doubled
IN ssse. The islands already have
ahecrhsd from ~ far west a. Dem
YER some two thousand skilled
workmen in connection with the
field and its attendant develop
ments, such a. housing. which has
become an acute problem here. At
least eight thousand more men
are 10 brought from the mainland.
the islands' own labor already hav-
ing been combed fine.
sun Another Era
The Hawaii Of yesterday has
paased within the lives Of people
still living. The Hawaii of today
sssms destined to paas within the
next 1--WE yeansl Americans who
have the good fortune to BE- IA
miliar with these ~Isles Of En-
ehantment" ~ they are may well
conKratulate themselves. They will
haze the opportunity to make COM
PARSONS with = new greater Ha-
vail Of tomorrow within a briefer
span than most Hswaiisns have
even family In their minds.