PACIFIC DEFENCES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21194, 17 August 1940, Page 6

PACIFIC DEFENCES

U.S.A. NAVY AND AIR ARM UNITS AT HONOLULU The United States had 10 battleships, two aircraft-carriers, 15 cruisers, about 50 destroyers and a number of submarines at anchor in Pearl Harbour, Honolulu, according to the party of American journalists who arrived at Auckland yesterday in the California Clipper. “At this greatest American naval base one gained the impression that here at least defences were going forward earnestly and with visible signs of progress on the part of both the Army and Navy,” said Mr Harold Callender, a special correspondent of the New York Times. “In addition to the naval personnel, there were some 25,000 officers and men stationed at the base, the units including coast artillery and air squadrons.” The Hickham airfield near the harbour was in the process of enlargement, a work which began in 1935 and should be completed in 1943 at a cost of 25,000,000 dollars. It was the headquarters of the 18th Wing of the United States Air Arm, comprising two bombardment groups and one pursuit group. Under the new programme of expansion it was expected that the wing would become a division, with perhaps a doubling of equipment and personnel. Meanwhile, there was what was called a skeleton set-up, but bomber reinforcements could fly from the mainland if needed.