The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-03-17

owns FdlInyTd lSldnQ III LldL VlClIl-
ity, which has quiet lagoon suit
able for seaplane landings. Kiska
in the Aleutians is one of the six
American ports closed to foreign
shipping and over which no civilian
aircraft is permitted to fly without
approval by the government.
Meanwhile, the military establish
ment in Hawaii hasn't been neglect
ed. It has become the most inn
portant defense center of the ma
ton. It is estimated that approx
mately 500, 100000 has been spent
on fortific atoms alone. More troops
are concentrated there than in any
other section of the nation. The
worlds greatest military airport,
Hickam field, is under construction
on the outskirts of Honolulu.
Many a world power is now angry
with itself for not having annexed
more of the several hundred small
islands that dot the Pacific, and
which are now looming more impor-
tant for naval purposes. Today for
the first time it is apparent that the
nations which control the islands
are those which control the Pacific
itself.
Japan's Pacific Power.
France, Portugal, Germany and
The Netherlands have disappeared
as strong contenders for Pacific
power. The last to leave was Ger
many, and its place was taken by
Japan which was given most Ger
man possessions under mandate at
the treaty of Versailles. Under this
mandate Japan took virtual posses
sion of a strip of the Pacific $500
miles long from east to west and
1000 miles wide. She acquired 623
islands, including the Marianas
group with the exception of
Guam); the Marshall islands; the
Caroline islands; and the Palau is
lands.
Since Japan is probably the only
nation from which the United States
has anything to fear in the Pacific,
the Versailles mandate now looms
highly important. Japan can estab-
ish naval bases almost halfway
across the ocean from her home
shores and within $500 miles of
Hawaii, within easy striking dis
lance. But she has not yet estab-
lished these bases, and Uncle Sam
has made his Hawaiian islands so
impregnable as to discourage the
most optimistic would-be attacker.
Which once again emphasizes the
islands Importance, since an enc
my from the west would almost
have to gain possession of Hawaii
before attacking the United States.
Oahu, the island on which Homo
lulu is located, is circled by coast
railway on which guns can be
moved quickly to stave off any at
tack. Latest anti-aircraft weapons
are ready for the enemy, including
huge horns capable of picking up
the sound of aircraft miles away.
This sound is transferred to $780,
100000 candle-power searchlights.
Once the enemy plane is bathed in
light, range-fnding devices auto
matically aim the guns on the tar
get.
Indeed, Hawaii has become the
Malta of the Pacific.
u. S. Joins the Race.
Talk of guns and battleships and
fleet maneuverS may sound strange
to American ears today, and more
than one slow-awakening individual
will wonder why all this hustle about
defending the Pacific. But in Wash
ington, where congress is building a
program that will give the United
States a navy Second to none,"
the matter is of vital Importance.
Actually our navy is not in the best
of shape, and we are entering the
rearmament race five years behind
the leaders.
The impossibility of Americas
continued abstinence from this mil
tary program is a growing convic-
ton with more Americans every
day, though peace-loving nation
may rebel at the thought of building
for war.
AS we turn our eyes west to the
sinking sun, though, We'll be as
sured that no trouble will come
from that direction before dawn
again lifts the Pacific's night
shroud. The fleets on guard!
g Western Newspaper Union.