Viewing page 203 of 377

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

the east. All of the islands are within easy flying distance of each other, while the passages through which shipping has to go from Asia westward are not more than thirty miles in width. Air Power based on these islands not only would control sea borne intercourse, but would also act as an advance position or an absolute barrier against any advance by either sea power or air power from Asia towards the Indian Ocean. The Island of Natuna which lies midway between the Island of Borneo and the Malay Peninsula could be developed into an exceptionally strong point. It is about the same size as the Island of Oahu in Hawaii and has every facility for development for air power. Japan, unquestionably, looks with longing eyes at this position and can be depended upon to possess herself of it at the slightest opportunity. 
     5. From our standpoint, airways can be established easily from the Philippines via Borneo to all the Dutch Indies or via Borneo to Singapore. Nowhere is it necessary to cross more than about eighty miles of open water. The time of flight from Manila to Singapore or Sumatra would be about fifteen hours while to Java it would be about five hours more. 
     6. We arrived at Tankjoeng Priok in the afternoon of January twenty-first. This is about six miles distant from Batavia

-171-