AMERICAN CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1926, Page 2

AMERICAN CABLE NEWS.

AFtTIC CONTINENT. A BACK FOR IT. [Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] NEW YORK, February 17. A race with an air squadron of JJolslievik Russia to claim land which might he used ns a military living base, north of Alaska, or Siberia, will probably be the result of the Polar flying expedition which Lieut. Leigh Wade, the round-the-world flier, will command. He said on Wednesday: “It was the firm opinion of every member of our party that the Bolsheviks plan to beat us in finding the continent which we feel assured, lies in the unchartered seas above Alaska. While there is no direct evidence of this, there is much circumstantial evidence. Wo are planning our trip definitely with the idea of getting there ahead of the Bolsheviks, if we can.” Wade said that the closing of W rangcll Island. Kamchatka Peninsula and North-Eastern Siberia to foreigners was one of the events upon which he based his beiioi that Soviet fliers were planning an expedition of their own. PACIFIC CABLE. CANADA’S DISSATISFACTION. VANCOUVER, Feb. 17. The Pacific Cable Board will probably make a reply to Canada's attitude at its March meeting. Meanwhile Canada remains adamant in her objection to the duplication. It is understood Canada also objects to Mr Hunter's recent appointment. The Canada Office in London, acting on Sir Charles Murphy's instructions, has issued a statement to the Press, detailing Canadian objections and summarising the reasons outlined in bis November pamphlet. It emphasises that Canada only agreed to the duplication of the Fanning Island-Honolnlu section. An authority conversant with the history of the Pacific Cable controversy stated that Canada was first to point out the necessity for duplication, and that she differed from the Board only as regards the length to lie duplicated. Canada wanted Fanning Lsland-Hono-Inlit. which meant sending cables to and from Australia via San Francisco over American land lines to Canada. Undoubtedly such a duplication would have been the cheaper, but it would have put America astride the All-Red route extension, and meant handing over to her considerable traffic which would have enabled her to dictate cable terms. Tt would have nullified the primary purpose for which Imperial cables are laid, and have made further developments dependent upon the decisions of the American cable companies, whose interests arc not identical with these of a self-contained Empire. It was impossible, said the authority, to understand Sir Charles Murphy’s attitude. except on the grounds of a personal objection, lie using the autociatic powers invested in the Canadian Post-master-General. The critic docs not believe Sir Charles Murphy's attitude represents the view of the Canadian Cabinet and the public.