The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-27

When the Navy's Hepburn Board made its first report on Guam, recommending fortifica- ton, Welles registered no opposi- ton. Later, however, 1t appeared that some of his State Depart- ment colleagues objected. So ct Q White House meeting, Welles told the President and Admiral Leahy that the State Department was opposed to fortifying Guam.
 He pointed out that Guam was isolated, 5000 miles from the American coast, could not be defended. Admiral Leahy c0un- tered with extensive and very emphatic arguments. He point- cd to Guam's strategic position between Japan and the Japan accumulated Caroline and Marshall Islands.
 The latetr islands, given to Jap- an by the Versailles Treaty, now have been fortified, and Admiral Leahy pointed out that this Is Q violation of the Four Power Past prohibiting naval bases in the Western Pacific. He also dis- closed that Japan had refused to give any information regarding her notifications, and that tho islands constituted c threat threat against Hawai-.
 BEHIND NAVAL BASE
 Reason for establishing 0 naval base In Guam, Admiral Leahy pointed out, was to cut off the Caroline and Marshall Islands from Japan. Between these islands and Japan, Guam stands in the same relative position as Miami stands between New York and the Panama Canal. A naval force at Guam could cut off food supplies and munitions which the islands would have to receive from Japan
 Leahy also pointed out that the fertilization of Guam would DC one step toward protecting the Philippines, that it would be ex- tremely difficult for Japan to at- tack the Philippines If Guam were 0 naval base.
 Admiral Leahy is 0 fortnight old seadog and he presented his ideas in no uncertain terms. How ever, Sumner Welles pointed out that Guam was 70 far from Hawaii that it could be captured by the Japanese, which would pre- cipitate c war with the United States.
 Replied Admiral Leahy; "If
 Japan starts war with the
 United Stacts by taking Guam I can't imagine anything worse
 for her."
 Japan already is up to her neck in the expense of war in China. Roosevelt threw his weight with Admiral Leahy and decided then to ask Congress for c naval base nt Guam.
 UNDER THE DOME
 Retired Major General George Van Horn Moseley, who has been scoring headlines recently with his violent attacks on the adminis- tration, has been offered the leadership of the American Na- tionalist Confederation, on or- ganization made Up of fascist and anti-Semetic groups First bill of this Congress for b0-cent commemorative coin would mark the completion of the great Bonneville Dam on the Columbia river in oregon Calvert Ma gruder, general counsel of the Wage Hour Administration, is likely successor to Justice Felix Frankfurter's place on the Har- yard law faculty When South Carolina's new Governor May bank moved into the executive mansion he found t devoid of servants because Olin Johnston had pardoned them. They were all prison trusties, and the last thing Johnston did before leaving office was to give them their free- dom one of the best places in Washington to lay c racing bet Is the General Accounting Office. The agency is c veritable hive of bookies and tipsters.
 SPANISH SENTIMENT
 General Emilio Herrera, aIr marshal Of the spanish Loyalist forces who spent c few hours in Washington recently, made some surprising observations on popt.