Japanese naval activities in the Pacific according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 19 March 1942

An item reported that the Japanese naval activity in the Bonin Islands seemed to be somewhat subsided except for the continue submarine and air searches. Air searches within a range of 600 miles by aircraft from Wake (1), Northern Marshall Islands, Jaluit (2) and Makin ,Gilbert Islands (3) and Yokosuka, Japan. On a distance of around 500 miles north of the Marcus Islands (geographical lat. 30-35 North and lon. 150-160 East) were 5 enemy submarines seen. The J.I.C. commented that these patrols made clear that the Japanese wondered where the Allies naval forces were.

Notes

1. Wake Island is sinds 1899 possessed by the USA and part of the so-called US Minor Outlying Islands.

2. Jaluit Atoll, a coral atoll numbering 91 islands which is nowadays part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

3. British colony Gilbert and Ellice Islands, since 1979 part of Kiribati.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 99 dated 19 March 1942

South Pacific Ocean atoll island Cantoon suitable as flying boat base according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1938 no. 6

Boeing 314 Atlantic Clipper

An item referred to the U.S.R. dated 1 September 1938 reporting that England and the USA agreed how to handle with the small islands Canton and Enderby part of the Phoenix Group. The island Canton (1) had a splendid lagoon suitable to be used as base for flying boats.

Note
1. The atoll island Kanton Island also known as Canton Island, Abariringa Island, Mary Island, Mary Balcout’s Island and Swallow Island, Phoenix Islands in the Republic of Kiribati. The United Kingdom claimed her since March 1937 as part of the Gilbert and Elice Islands Colony but in June 1937 the USA claimed the island. On 6 April 1939 was an agreement signed for an joint control as the Canton and Enderbury Islands condominium. Pan American World Airways started in 12 July 1940 with her New Zealand flying boats service using the Boeing 314 Clipper.