Mysterious Moves In Central

Pacific

How British and Americans Are Preparing For Trans-Pacific Air Service

THERE has been much mysterious * movement during the month, in con nection with the Pan-American Airways project of an airmail service across the Central Pacific, between Hawaii and Zealand.

It was reported, last month, that a French schooner L'Oiseau des lies, had left Suva early in January with a Pan- American Airways party for an unknown destination—probably to inspect and map islands along the projected airmail route.

On January 25, H.M.S. Leith, a British war-sloop from the New Zealand station, appeared in Suva, received instructions from the Governor of Fiji, took aboard a radio operator and six months’ supplies, and that evening disappeared into the unknown. None of her personnel were given shore-leave. There is no doubt that her mission is connected with the Anglo- American competition for the possession of certain Central Pacific Islands along the projected airmail route.

The radio officer, who joined the Leith, is Mr. A. O. Barrack, a senior man in the service of the Fiji Government. He was given sealed orders to be opened at sea. It was noted that the Leith had a quantity of timber stowed on her decks.

The following other points have been noted: It is reported, but not officially con firmed, that negotiations between New Zealand and Pan-American Airways for provision of a suitable aviation base in Auckland have broken down, and that Pan-American Airways now are seeking

an alternative Central Pacific route to Australia.

Mr. Philipovitch, an engineer repres enting Pan-American Airways arrived in Noumea, New Caledonia, in January and, we believe, is still there. This gives colour to the belief that the P.A.A. route may now be Hawaii —Samoa—Fiji—New Caledonia—Australia. This would give almost a direct route, and would cut out the two long hops from Fiji to New Zealand, and New Zealand to Australia.

British interest in the project is due to the fact that Imperial Airways are determined to have a British service en circling the globe. This means that Im perial Airways flying-boats must soon seek a route from Australia to New Zea land, and thence, via the Central Pacific islands and Hawaii, to North America.

It is probable that the Pan-American Airways hold-up has been caused by New Zealand, acting in co-operation with Whitehall, seeking from the Americans the same facilities regarding Hawaii and the Imperial Airways service, as the Americans want for the P.A.A. service in Auckland. A glance at the map will show that the situation of Hawaii, in relation to North America, is in an air ways sense almost identical with the situation of New Zealand in relation to Australia.

It has been repeatedly but unofficially reported that the P.A.A.’s China Clipper , under Captain Edwin Musick, will make soon an exploratory flight from Hawaii to Auckland.