More Teeth For Uncle
pp. 37-38 · Read in the full issue
Sam Big Guns at Pago Pago
From Our Own Correspondent
Honolulu, Dec. 2.
PUTTING more “teeth” in the new American far-flung Pacific defence scheme, the U.S. Navy shipped three 8-inch coastal guns and mountings to the navy base at Pago Pago, American Samoa, by the liner “Mon terey”, which left Honolulu November 14.
They were placed aboard in Cali fornia. During this year the Navy has built up fuel oil and ammunition supplies at Pago Pago, too.
It will be recalled that America mounted guns at the entrance to Pago Pago harbour, in which the Navy Station is situated, during the World War, and manned them in a 24-hour watch basis.
Two German ships—the “State- Secretary Solf”, 350 tons, and the “Elsass”, 15,000 tons-sought refuge
in Pago Pago during the war and, upon America’s entry in April, 1917, they were seized and taken over by the Navy. It was found then that the German crew had damaged en gine room fittings, etc., in the “Elsass”.
Also, secreted in Pago Pago drains, the Navy found a large sum of Ger man marks hidden by certain Ger mans then resident there. They had been instructed by a German agent who visited Pago Pago in an Ameri can liner.
Pago Pago, long an isolated outpost of the Navy, now is being used more and more by patrols. Several sub marines have visited there this year.
The new submarine “Swordfish” left here on November 26 on a visit.
There will be more activity in the Samoa area when the U.S. Pacific fleet holds its major war games early in 1940.
Mrs. S. Veitch and her three-years-old son Dennis, returned to Wau, New Guinea, recently after a holiday in Syd ney- Mr. Veitch is a member of the staff of Bulolo Gold Dredging Ltd.
Rev, H. S. Hipkin arrived in Sydney by the last “Malaita” from Taroaniara.
Gela, Solomon Islands, where he has been engaged in work for the Melanesian Mis sion. He departed for England in Decem ber by the “Strathallan”.
Mr. W. Clapham, accountant at the Suva branch of the Bank of New Zea land, will return to New Zealand at the end of January, having completed his term of service in Fiji.