Magazine Section
p. 63 · Read in the full issue
Though he'd be the first to pooh-pooh the part he played in a little drama of empire enacted in the 19308 in the Pacific, Mr William Cowie, now living in retirement at Maroubra Junction in New South Wales, saved Christmas Island—the one in the Pacific Line Islands and not the one in the Indian Ocean —from annexation by the United States. He was the only Britisher living on the island, with his next door neighbour 153 miles away on Fanning Island, when an American warship called on October 30 1937 with the express purpose of claiming the island for the United States which, for years has dis puted Britain s ownership. But Mr Cowie had the Union Jack flying and his callers left. Ten days later they claimed Canton Island which is now a British-US condominium. Below Mr Cowie tells of his 1? months on Christmas Island.