Transport: Ocean Airway (Cont'd)

Last week Pan American Airways forged steadily ahead with its transpacific airway program, assured by the Post Office Department that Congress would provide $1,800,000 for the first year of operation —$35,000 for each weekly round-trip between California and China. At Wake Island, one of the operating bases in the projected 8,000-mi. airway, a temporary radio station set up on the beach went officially on the air for the first time, contacting California, Honolulu, Midway Island.

Wake Island consists of three tiny jungle-clad atolls—Wilkes, Peale and Wake proper. Last week the advance construction crew ran into difficulties on Wilkes. Days of digging, drilling...