May Be Abandoned By

Baker Island

May Be Abandoned By United States

From Our Own Correspondent

Honolulu, Sept. 21.

A FTER going to tremendous expense (and bother to keep it secret as long as possible) to colonise Baker Island, an equatorial island between the lati tudes of the Gilbert and Phoenix Islands, the United States Government is con sidering abandoning it, according to recent United Press despatches.

When the U.S.A. colonised Baker in 1935 with army units and Honolulu high school boys, she also secretly occupied nearby Howland and Jarvis (1,000 miles east). Baker and Howland are only 35 miles apart.

For some time radio and meteorologi cal stations have been located on the three. Various U.S. Government officials often have stated that the islands were occupied because they might be of some use to aircraft employed in projected air lines to the Antipodes.

For long in charge of Army and Bureau of Air Commerce officers, the islands, to stop any criticism from Japan, are now being administered by the Department of the Interior. Last year 35,000 dollars was spent in the occupation and work. The high school boys living and working on them, most of them part- Hawaiian, Portuguese, Chinese, etc., are paid four dollars and keep per day. Each boy usually remains at least six months.

The Government now considers that not much point is being gained by occupying Baker owing to its proximity to Howland, which is a better island for aircraft to boot.

It is expected that nothing decisive will be done about Baker, however, until after the islands are visited this month by Dr. Ernest Greuning, who administers the islands.

Dr. T, G. and Mrs. Braun and Rev. J.

Mager and his bride are returning to their duties as members of the staff of the Lutheran Mission in New Guinea, and they are using the Hong Kong route.

Dr. Braun is travelling from Seattle across the Pacific Ocean, whilst Rev.

Mager is coming from Europe via Suez.

Miss Joyce Terry, of Watson’s Bay, Sydney, returned to Australia by the September Morinda from the New Hebrides where she spent nearly five months’ holiday. She stayed at Vila with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. A.

Lamey. Mr. Larney is Chief Surveyor in the Condominium Service.