Evening star., 1939-06-25
By Joseph S. Edeerfon.

sseS from Langley Field, Va. in Eche
Amazon and the eternal polar ice cap.
They are profoundly disturbed over the
construction of German and Italian
commercial airports in Northern South
America and argue that our air force
must be strong enough to instantly wipe
such bases off the face of the earth
should there ever come a threat that
they may be used as starting points for
air raids against the Panama Canal or
other vital spots.
Three Conditions Cause Need.
In testifying in support of the Air
Corps expansion program. Gen. Malin
Craig, soon to retire from his post as
chief OF staff, told the House Appropria-
tlons Committee that the need for
enlarging and improving our air force is
the result, principally. of three condi-
tions:
First. the state Of political tension
throughout the world and the vast aug
mentation of armament by all world
powers.
Second, the rapid development in
aviation and the consequent emphasis
that is being placed on aerial warfare.
Increased range, increased speed and
increased capacity of airplanes have
changed our requirements for defensive
aviation.
Third, the announced governmental
policy of defending the Western Hemi-
sphere against aggression"
The mission Of the air forces in the
continental United States, Gen. Craig
said, is that of assisting in the defense
OF our land and coastal frontiers and
OF reinforcing our overseas possessions
1t will be essential that major portion
of the forces be stationed within the
continental limits of the United States.
Three Defense Areas.
Three general defense areas are set
up:
First, the Pacific Coast. At present
the Air Corps has March and Hamilton
Fields in California and is constructing
McChord Field in the Northwest. These
bases will provide the immediate initial
defense for the Pacific Coast. Hawaii,
however, is IAN indispensable bulwark for
the defense of the Pacific Coast" and
must be maintained as base for naval,
operations. There the Air Corps has
Wheeler Field in operation and is build
ing Hickam Field to strengthen. its air
defenses. Hostile forces holding Alaska
would be in position to conduct air
operations against vital areas in the con-
tinental United States. For the defense
of Alaska and as necessary extension
of the defenses Of the continental United
States, therefore, the Air Corps proposes
to establish an air base there.
Second, the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.
At present the Air Corps has Langley
Field at Hampton, Va, and Mitchell
Field, Long Island, on the East coast
and Barksdale Field at Shreveport, La.
1t is proposed to establish two new air
bases, one in the Northeast, one in the
Southeast, on sites yet to be named. Air
defense. however, must be farther afield,
as in the case Of Hawaii and Alaska.
For the defense of the Atlantic Southeast
and the Gulf coast and, more particu-
larly, for the Panama Canal, the whole
Caribbean area must be sealed against
hostile bases that would threaten our
security. The Air Corps proposes to
establish key base at Puerto Rico.
Panama Is Defense Keystone.
Third, for the defense of the Panama
Canal. Panama, Gen. Craig said, 'is
the keystone in the defense of the West
ern Hemisphere and must be made i'm
pregnable." Our air forces must be
prepared to intercept and drive of hos
/ tile aviation operating against the Canal
from land or water bases and to destroy
those bases. The Air Corps has Albrook
and France Fields in the Panama Canal
Zone and proposes to establish third
base there. These bases will be strength
ened and supported by the availability
Of reinforcing air units in the Southern
United States and In Puerto Rico.
The Army" Gen. Craig said, "is re-
sponsible for the direct defense of our
continental and outlying territory, and
in carrying out that responsibility needs
these and other Bases from which air
force units stationed thereon can inter-
cept and destroy any sea-borne hostile
force approaching our coasts"
Gen. Craig disclosed publicly for the
first time that the former agreement
between the Army and Navy limiting
the radius Of action Of Army aircraft to