Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-26
SaIamaua and Lac
Gained Fame as Ports
For Rich Go|dfieIds
By the Associated Press.

SAN FRANCISCO. July 26.-It
took a war to make Salamaua and
Lac familiar names to Americans
? but the two great air bases which
p the Allies are attempting to re-
capture from the japanese have
been known in the Southwest
Pacific since 1926 as the Ports OF
the Goldfields'
These two cities, 18 miles apart on
the Northeastern coast of New
Guinea, were only spots on the map
until the big gold rush in 1926
Within few months after the dis
covery Of gold in the Morobe fields,
IS miles inland by air, they became
important airports for hauling
freight and passengers to and from
the mining area, When the war
started the two cities claimed the
worlds largest air freight line,
The jung!es between the coast and
the Morobe district were the cause
of the rapid growth of the airiines.
The only other means of transpor-
tation was by native carriers over
60-mile trail. A round trip took
three weeks. One way by air took
from Is to Is minutes.
Active Air Service.
! During the u months ending June
30. 1910, the New Guinea air serv-
ices carried 1884 passengers, 146.-
e98 pounds of mail and 23.A99, $40
pounds Of freiGht, including heavy
mine machinery.
The goldfelds which made this
business possible produced s50,0O0.-
900 worth of the yellow metal before
the war. They averaged more than
sl0000.000 annually for the few years
preceding the war.
! The entire mining district is
Dotted with landing fields, including
emergency clearings in the hills. In
land headquarters and large air
port was built at Wau. 35 miles from
Salamaua. This base was recap
tured from the Japane2e several
months ago and stree then has been
the object of repeated and costly
attacks by land and air forces.
Salamaua is on narrow isthmus
and has sheltered anchorage. Be-
fore the war it boosted of large
hospital, picturesque bungalows, a
flrst-class hotel and small but
thriving business district.
Field Is Flood Immune.
Because Salamaua is subject to
periodical floods the New Guinea
Always, Ltd. established its head
quarters at Lac soon after the start
of the gold rush. In 1885 the
Government completed engineering
working to prevent flooding of the
airfleld
Lac, however, remained the main
base for the New Guinea airWays
because of its wide expanse of fiat
ground and its further distance
from the mountains, which gave
heavily loaded planes a greater dis
lance to gain altitude without cir
cling the airport 1t lacks a suitable
anchorage and ships must be I'M
loaded there by a lighter service.
Four years ago Lac was selected
to be the new capital OF the terri
tory of New Guinea instead of
Rabaul on New Britain Island,
northeast Of the mainland.
Rabaul Strongest Base.
Rabaul, now the strongest Japa-
nese base in that area of the South
Pacific. was evacuated in 1887 after
a nearby volcanic eruption covered
it with ashes and dust. 1t was
later reoccupied but because of the
danger of more eruptions the de-
ciSion to change capitals was made
The war started before the move
was accomplished.
When the japanese occupied Lac
end Salamaua late in January, 1912,
they found well developed airfields.
They became military bases which
ere the main object of the present
Allied offensive in New Guinea.
Allied control of them would force
the enemy to use bases farther
north and more distant from the
shipping and air lanes of the United
Nations in the South Pacific.