Evening star., 1938-04-22
HOUSE UN|TSPLAN
DEFENSE SURVEY.
Summer Expedition Over
10000 Miles to List
Weak Spots.
By the Associated Press.

Members of the House Naval and
Military Committees will make thor
ough check up this summer on the Ma
tion's defenses. from Maine to Hawaii
and from the Panama Canal to Alaska.
The objective will be to obtain in
formation to be used as the basis for
future legislation to strengthen weak
spots.
Chairman Vinson of the Naval Com
mittee and Chairman May Of the mill
tary group said today the survey would
include every major navy yard, air
base and emplacement of anti-aircraft
and seacoast defense guns.
The tour may start in June and
cover as much as 10000 miles.
Mr., Vinson said a subcommittee
would make a special trip to Alaska
with reference to military needs for
locating air, destroyer, submarine and
mine bases there.
They are going to be asked to 90 to
Honolulu to look over the situation
there, particularly the feasibility of
establishing craving dock. They also
Will look over the advisability of a
supply depot at Oakland, Calf.
To Chart Gulf Bases.
Mr.. May said the Gulf Coast also
would be inspected and that military
committeeman would study coast de-
lenses primarily to determine the need
for new coast artillery and anti-air-
craft guns.
We are going to see for ourselves
"hat dllapidated condition our coast
defenseS are in" he said We ap-
parently have bunch of obsolete
stationary guns that are designed
only to shoot at ships. What we
need is mobility
Most OF this Nations coast line is
WIDE open to aerial bombardment.
The best way to stop these agres-
sor nations is to show them we have
the strength to back up our position >
Mr.. May said it was noticeable that
as soon as the United States served
notice on Japan that it intended TO
build more battleships, the japanese
government withdrew fishing fleets
from our Alaskan waters
Plan to Use Planes.
The members OF the two committees
expect to travel together, probabl
making most of the trip by plane.
They may be accompanied by a
hoard OF five naval officers. to be
created under the House approved
naval expansion bill. This board
would be directed to ascertain the
need for additional submarine, de-
Sroyer and naval air bases on the
coasts of the United States and its
territories and possessions
proposal to hasten Senate action
on the expansion bill by limitation
of debate came today from its
sponsors.
Chairman Walsh Democrat. of
Massa chuSetts, of the Senate Naval
Committee, said he would seek a
Senate agreement Monday to curtail
debate probably to half an hour for
each speaker on the bill itself and Is
minutes on each amendment.
Would Assure Passage
Although the Senate was in recess
today, Senator Walsh said such an
agreement would assure passage of the
sl,l56 100000 measure next week.
Senator Nye. Republican, of North
Dakota. leader Of the opposition,
SAID, however, that a dozen or more
Senators still want to speak against
the bill. and he did not know whether
they would agree to limitation.
The measure drew repeated attacks
Yesterday from Senators Vandenbere,
Republican. of Michigan Lundeen,
Farmer-Labor. of Minnesota: Bone,
Democrat, of Washington, and Nye.
Senator Bone said that increasing
bids submitted by private shipbuild-
ing yards might make the program
cost $4,000, 100000 instead of the esti-
mated s1,l56,0OO,O0O He urged that
the measure be amended to require
construction in Government yards.
Senator Vandenberg suggested
new international arms conference as
way out Of the naval race"
He said that amy realist vii,
recognize that the old 5-5-3 ratio
for the United States, Great Britain
and Japan is no longer a feasible
basis for agreement.