{? 
ITASCA 
Passage, Baker *3land to Honolulu,T.H, 
27 October 1936 
C0NFIMTIA1 
PRO!.!: 
TO : 
Commanding Officer, ITASCA 
Capt* V/# X* Kilpatrick, U.3 .Navy, Office of Naval 
Intelligence, Fourteenth Naval District,Honolulu, T* H, 
* >5 
SUBJECT: Visits of Foreign V 0 ssels to the iAno Islands* 
1. In complance with your request, the following information 
is sub^ttod for your consideration* 
On 5 September 1936, a British war Vessel approached Jarvis 
Island and then steamed off. From Pictures, the Island personnel of 
Jarvis identified the vessel as the Australian cruiser WELLINGTON* 
*> * * 
3* (a) The personnel of Howland Island reported the following: On 
26 August, 1936, at about 1400, a vessel approached from the oast and 
circled the northern side of the Island to the westward! passed IjV miles 
in front of camp, then around the south end and headed in a south-easterly 
direction* The vessel was apparently making about 15 knots; was about 
250-300 feet in length; wo.s poiirtod oil vfixit© 9 and hod a. cx*uisox* bow# 
Ihe vessel was flying the Japeneso flag. No* armament was noted* Hi© 
writer sketched a profile outline of the HAKDYO MARU from memory of a 
photograph shorn by you, and the personnel stated that the vessel sighted 
corresponded to the outline. It is believed that the HAKUYO MAHU was 
the vessel sighted off the island* 
(b) At about 0950, 19 September, the French Cruiser SAVORGNAN DE 
BRASSA approached the Island from a Southeasterly direction and hove to 
off the camp site* The Cruiser took soundings and approached within 75 
yards of the reef. A bout containing one officer find two sailors was 
lowerdd and approached the surf* They apparently wanted to attempt a 
landing. The suf was too high for this to be accomplished, so the officer, 
spooking in English, hailed the boys and asksd them if they were all right; 
did they need a doctor, and were they in need of supplies. The officer 
apparently vaulted to give them a message, and wanted one of the boys to 
swim out to the coat* Due to the high surf and a noticeable number of 
sharks, the boys declined* An about 1030 the vessel departed to the westward* 
(c) At 1530, 19 October, a steamer, apparently a freighter, approached 
the island, headed for'-the Island until about a mile out from the camp, 
then changed course, rounded the north end of the Island, and headed in 
a northeasterly direction. The vessel flew a British flag, but the name 
could not be distinguished due to the glare of the afternoon sun* The funnel 
of the steamer was either blue or black at the top; the rest of the stack 
was brown* The center of the funnel was painted with the colors of the 
rainbow with the letter "H” or "S"* The boys stated that although they 
•r-.V'-iortt-sesf# - 
