The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-11-23

SAlhO, NOV. ZS-Amerlca Is
hewing some splendid pioneer
ing developments out of the
jungles and desert of equatorial
Africa in connection with our
all-out war effort and striking
example of this is a great air
port at which I spent some days
en- route to Egypt.
This port must be nameless in
our dispatch for reasons which
you can easily guess. Actually
the existence of the enterprise is
no longer secert from friend or
foe, for it has become too i'm
portant to hide under a bushel.
AXIS AGENTS ACTIVE
Newspaper articles have been
written about it and you hear it
mentioned freely in New York,
London, Rio de Janeiro and
even ir Lisbon, where Axis
agents rub shoulders with Allied
nationals.
In short, it Is known wherever
there are people who are much
travelled by air or who have in
terests connected with aerial
transport.
Still it may add piquancy to
our story if we play with the
idea that the port is a deep, dark
mystery.
In that spirit I have to report
that I arrived by magic carpet
in this strange land on a certain
sweltering hot day which was
torrid summer to me but win
ter to you-and l leave you to
figure out that little problem
of seasons if you are smart
enough.
1t soon became apparent that I
was on spot which, as things
stand, may be one of the worlds
chief airports after the war.
1t provides unique facilities
at point that affords a gateway
for an aerial shortcut from the
Atlantic clear through to the
Orient.
Less than a year ago this was
just another fever spot in the
swampy jungles of steaming
Africa. Today 1t is a healthful
little community which is so
modern it even has electric
lights and refrigeration.
And eight villages in the
neighboring bush have been
hitched to the tail of this comet
of civilization.
NOT A LAKE
Our port has the appearance
at first blush of being a huge
lake which nature puckishly had
set down beside the mother At
lantic. Actually it isn't a lake
at all but huge bay which is
almost surrounded by land. 1t is
Is miles long and three miles
wide and is so sheltered that it
would accommodate a we'll nigh
limitIess armada of flying boats.
Behind it are facilities for land
planes.
Thus you have perfect base
for war or commerce.
This development is Pan
American Always project and
must form a proud chapter in
the history of the company's
pioneering.
Anyway, a sturdy little army
of Pan American workers has
faced tropical diseases and fierce
discomforts to create this stra-
tegic port with the help of 700
natives recruited from the sur
rounding villages.
Some 20 acres of land have
been wrested from the dense
jungle, which continually reach
es out to reclaim its own. Neigh
boring morasSes have been
drained and on the high ground
overlooking the port have been
erected many comfortable and
well-equipped buildings, includ-
ing administration headquar-
ters, a recreation center, a huge
dining hall, a laundry and five
barracks, complete with fans,
baths and electric lights.
SHADOW PEOPLE
There are others whom
should like to mention in con-
nection with this achievement,
but they must remain shadow
people of our mystery port
They will understand.
You have to see this region to
understand what a tough job
has been done. The daytime
heat is terrific. although the
nights aren't bad, and the hui