Phoenix Islands
p. 19 · Read in the full issue
Transport
Americans Solve a British Problem
By Harold Cooper
THE Condominium of Canton Island (Anglo-American) affords one of the most pleasing examples of teamwork in this war against the Axis.
Canton (although itself a Condo minium) is also the headquarters from which a British District Officer adminis ters the islands of the Phoenix Group (which were unpopulated until some 2,500 Gilbert Islanders were introduced by the British in the late thirties), and his mobility has recently been greatly in creased as a result of the amiable co operation of the Commanders of Ameri can flying-boats, who are able to deliver him within a few hours at outposts which it would take him days to reach by sea.
Many of these islands are still almost wholly dependent on imported food sup plies, and during recent shipping diffi culties an American PBY made a special trip to drop two tons of foodstuffs on an island beach, thus averting what might have been a near-famine for the 70 inhabitants.
“Local Colour”
The British Administration does what it can to repay these manifold kind nesses. It has imported from other Paci fic islands specialised labour needed by the Americans on Canton, and employs a small squad of native fishermen, who keep the garrison supplied with fresh sea-food. But perhaps the most useful function of this tiny British settlement on Canton is the provision of “local colour.” which helps the Americans sta tioned there to realise that they are actually in that romantic area known as the South Seas.
Soldiers and sailors alike delight in having their pictures taken with Can ton’s two native policemen (one Gilbert ese and one Ellice Islander) who are per haps the most photographed civil ser vants in the whole Empire.
After office hours, the residents of the British station are always willing to stage a display of native dancing and they have also initiated the Americans into the difficult art of spear-fishing.
Typical of the friendly atmosphere on the island was the scene at the British station on the King’s Birthday, when His Majesty’s loyal subjects paraded to salute the flag. The first verse of the National Anthem was sung by the Gilbertese and the second by the Ellice Islanders, while throngs of interested American onlookers stood respectfully to attention in the background.