Canton “War”

More Amenities For U.S. Camp

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Honolulu, July 2.

THE circulation of the “P.1.M.” is uni que. It finds its way into the far corners of the globe—finishing up, for example, on official desks in Washington.

Right along the “P.1.M.” has observed and reported the recent “discovery” and occupation by American units of certain Pacific Islands. Canton Island has of fered the best “story” to date because, although a British party had occupied the island for some time, along came the Americans, who hoisted a much bigger flag, and settled down in tents and huts alongside their “cousins”.

Reports in the “P.1.M.” have made life on Canton much easier for the Ameri cans. Notable example: the Britishers had a big refrigefator in which they were able to keep, nice and fresh, those tit bits that take the monotony from a tro pical menu. Although America had occupied other islands before Canton, the Government had never bothered to give their isolated men the advantages of a refrigerator.

However, the “P.l.M.’s” references to the Britishers’ refrigerator on Canton have borne fruit. A U.S. coastguard cutter, which will visit Canton during July, will take along a refrigerator exactly the same size as the Britishers. The whole tech nique of keeping the Americans stocked with food is to be improved, so that Cap tain “Bill” Martin of the “Niagara” won’t have to pull up his trans-Pacific liner any more and shoot supplies ashore on a raft, as reported in the “P.IM.”

Best of all, though, refrigerators are to be placed on the U.S. occupied islands of Enderbury, Jarvis, Baker, and How land. This just shows what a little pub licity can do!

Next British move in connection with Canton Island is reported to be this: Mr.

Tom Manning, who has been radio oper ator there since January, will be replaced by a navy signal officer, who is to be dropped there soon by one of the war ships of the N.Z. division of the Royal Navy. Mr. Manning will be taken on to Christmas Island to relieve Mr. William Cowie, who has been there almost a year.

This change is being made to give the British units on Canton more authority.

The navy man chosen is said to “know his onions”, which means being tactful— and knowing how to keep a refrigerator running!