12
Evening   Slnnilnrd,   Monday,   December   21, 1936
U.S.A. May Hoist Her Flag on Christmas Island
VALUABLE BASE FOR FLIGHTS
TO NEW ZEALAND
From Our Own Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Monday.
(JHRISTMAS   ISLAND,   which claims
attention each Yuletide for its name,
gains new distinction this year.
It may be placed under the U.S.A. Hag as
a vital military and commercial- airport,
according to plans being discussed here.
This coral atoll of the South Seas is on
an air line from Hawaii to New Zealand,
and plans already are under way to begin
this service with passenger and mail air-
planes.
Honolulu, centre of Pacific air services, is
3900   miles   from   New   Zealand. The
Brojected new service would be from
onolulu to Chriswnas Island (1200 miles),
Christmas Island to Pago Pago. Samoa
(1200 miles), and Pago Pago to Auckland
(1500 miles).
The advantages of Christmas Island as
a strategic base for naval operations have
long been apparent to the Navy Depart-
ment, which has sponsored several research
expeditions there.
Growing   interest has  been manifest
among the Navy's high command since the
development of trans-oceanic Hying.
Official Government maps note that both
the U.S.A. and Great Britain claim
Christmas Island, now only a copra colony,
but destined perhips to be one of the
world's greatest airports.
The British stake their claim on the fact
Captain Cook first recorded the existence
of Christmas Island. Contrary to usual
belief, the discovery was not made on
Christmas Day, but on Christmas Eve,
1777.
At various times American then British
groups occupied and claimed the island,
valuable only for its guano fertilizer.
Father Rougier, a French priest of'
Tahiti, built up the coconut plantations.
He colonised the island with South Sea
Island labourers, and laid out towns with
the unoriginal names of London and Paris.
' There are less than 100 natives there
now, directed by Paul Rougier, a nephew
of the old priest, who died only a few
years ago.
Christmas Island is 40 miles long, 35
miles wide, and has a magnificent lagoon
for the landing of seaplanes.
The land is at an average height of but
15 feet above the ocean.
A field for land planes could be graded
with little effort.
THE Clli\ l CUPPER, on* of the type
Hon*itulu-.\ru'
of air liners which will fly
Zealand service.
on
Ih,
EarThmiake Damage to
Mark's
guakes threaten the
tKev Basilica  of St.
Time, tides and ea
under-strueture of
Mark's, Venice.
Thirty-four years ago an^carthquake
caused the eoljapse oC-tftc Campanile, or
original bell toweiv-Serious fissurss were
discovered in the foundations, (tracks
opened in floors and walls.
After thjK recent earth shocks, almost
invisibles-fissures appeared in some of the
old "wajmds." Architects fear that they
portend more trouble.
New U;&A. Cars
Guard
LET YOHP CHPISTMAS Wiwc* rp rditicu wiurc
Crash Ri
By ROBKRTJVAl.I.ING,
" Evening: Standard " Motoring
Correspondent
AM ERIC AN /motor manufacturers are
' designing their cars in such a way as to
reduce the risk of injury in case of accident.
All sharp edges arc finished with rubber.
Knobs on instrument boarOs are set deep
in the panel; windscreen-wiper controls are
of rubber; bodies are all-steel and in one
piece; instrument panels are set high so