The Daily Alaska empire., 1937-12-17

new IeSeINdblOil TUT tIlc NdNy lldu been set aside in Alaska. Further Information is given in the news letter of J. J. Eckles, Secretary to Delegate Dimond, of November 27, as follows.
 Reservation of a small area near Kodiak was made by executive or der signed by the President on Mo- vember 20. The order withdrawing the area from settlement or entry states that it is reserved for the use of the Navy Department for present and prospective naval uses"
 The reservation set up embraces about square miles of land and water southwest of the town of Ko- diak, dimensioned to include the entrance to and considerable part | of Womens Bay, together with the shore region on two sides of the ] bay.
 Official announcement of the present and prospective naval pur- poses" for which the reservation is made has not been released by the Navy Department, but it seems al most certain that this is another step forward in the program for the naval defense of Alaska, as urg- ed by Delegate Dimond since he first started to serve the Territory in Congress. In line with custom lary procedure the Department has not disclosed it's intention as to the amount of or character of construc- tion projected for this new reser- vation.
 First Step Taken
 The first step in the present program of naval defense taken this year was inaugurated last spring when the Navy Department com menced rehabilitation work on its buildings at Japonski Island near Sitka. Construction there will cost about sl00,0O0 and it is expected that nearly $30.00O more will be re- quired before the project is com plete. This establishment was made to be seaplane base to serve twelve-plane squadron of patrol planes and a plane tender Operat- ing personnel will require officers and Is men. Tn view of the Ioca- tion of the reservation now estab- lished near Kodiak, it seems prob- able that it too will be primarily used as a seaplane base.
 At present all naval stations in Alaska are under the 18th Naval District with headquarters at Se- attle, Washington. However, be- cause of the prime strategic import ance of Alaska to national defense Delegate Dimond is working to have a separate naval district establish ed for and in the Territory Con- tinued development of naval oper- ations in northern waters may be expected to require such establish ment in the reasonably near future Dimond's Bill
 In reporting to the House Con- mittee on Naval Affairs on the Di- mond bill now pending before Con- lgress, which would authorize the establishment of naval station in Alaska and carrying authority for an appropriation of 100 million dol lars for that purpose, Hon. Claude A. Swanson, Secretary of the Navy, stated, Present indications are that the strategic importance of Alaska will soon increase to a point where naval facilities in those waters sufficient to support limited naval force will be essential" He then pointed out, however, that naval op- erations in the area will be limited lat least initially." so that extensive shore establishments will not be re- quired flor the time being to SUD- port them," and recommended against enactment of the bill. The Delegate has indicated that he be- lieves the station will eventually be required through development of gradually increasing naval activities in the Territory and that he will continue to urge such action even though on more limited scale.
 Alaska Interests in Congress In attempting to outline progress made turing the past week by Con- gress in developing necessary new legislation or acting upon pending bills it is difficult to point out any particular accomplishment of na- tional significance that would prop erly fit the pattern for which the extraordinary session was called. However, this pattern Eas not been closely defined, for when he called the session, the President stated that public interests" require that Congress should be convened in special session. Opinions differ among legislators as to just what these public interests are. as might be expected when each Member of Congress has in mind the most ur- gent needs of that particular dis trict and State he represents. Per- haps it is only reasonable that | O