Evening star., 1939-03-06

" NIftOI NSHbtf GCo, IICOHLCHL
Roosevelt asked the present Con-
gress to Uote a defense program
to cost S552 100000. First part
OF this plan Uds $685., 900 900
Army expansion measure Uhich
already has passed House. Sub
jected to more critical debate in
the Senate, the measure is
nevertheless erpected to be
adopted and the Way cleared for
other parts OF the defense pro-
gram.
Hy tie Associated Press.
Admiral William D. Leahy, chief
OF naval operations, renewed today
the Nays effort to obtain congress
sional authority for a $4,000 900 i'm
provement program on the tiny
island of Guam, 1,400 miles from
Toxic.
Despite a previous assertion of
Senator Walsh, Democrat, Of Mass
achusetts, chairman CT the Senate
Naval Affairs Committee, that the
Guam proposal should be dropped
for the time being because some
critics considered it war threat
toward Japan, Admiral Leahy told
the Senate committee:
THE opposition has in general
been based on the assumption that
what is really intended is the forti-
fication of Guam so as to make it
an important and strongly defended
naval base for airplanes and sub
marines.
This is not the case: the only
improvements contemplated at the
present time are the building of
| breakwater and dredging to improve
the seaplane take-off area and
minor preparations for handling
planes
The naval official said a $5,0O0,-
900 authorization for improving
alrplane facilities at Guam would
be OF great value to existing Amer
ican commercial airlines as we'll
as to the operation of any naval
patrol planes that might be in the
Guam area.
Future Value Stressed.
He contended that Guam was of
| great Importance as a possible air
! and submarine base from which to
protect our overseas commerce from
the Dutch East Indies, where es-
sential strategic materials necessary
/ to maintain our industries are OBJ
tanned"
ut is of value" he added, "as a
possible naval station at which to
base our Asiatic feet when the
United States withdraws from the
Philippines in 1916"
Admiral Leahy declared the
islands strategic position made it of
lnestlmable value as a possible de-
fenSe base which would act as a
strong deterrent "to any foreign
power contemplating a hostile move
toward the Hawaiian Islands or con-
tinental United States"
Bill Passed by House.
The admiral appeared before the
Senate committee in support of a
sos ,O0O, ,00C bill to authorize the estab-
lishment or improvement of naval
aviation facilities at Kaneohe Bay,
Pearl Harbor, Midway Island, Wake
Island, Johnston Island, Palmyra
Island and Guam in what he called
the mid-Pacific area; Kodiak and
Sitka in the Alaskan area; San Juan,
Puerto Rico. in the Caribbean area,
and Jacksonville, Fla, and Pensacola
in the continental United States.
The House recently passed q SINH
lar S47,000,00 air base bill, eliminat-
Ing from it authority for the Guam
development and for a naval air
base at Jacksonville.
Meanwhile. Chairman Scrugham,
Democrat, of Nevada of the House
Naval Appropriations Subcommittee
said his group would begin hearings
March 13 or IA on the 1939-40 Navy
Department supply bill.
Value to Aviation Cited.
Senator johnson. Republican, OF
California asked Admiral Leahy If
a $5,00O,O00 expenditure at Guam
would not be just as Objectionable
to some interests as If this country
went ahead and fortified the island
The admiral said he saw no
grounds for any power objecting to
the proposed Improvements.
"A $5,0O0,0o0 expenditure against
a hostile country-if there be any
such-would be of no value what
ever, would it?" Senator johnson
inquired. How much would it take
to make Guam safe from assault?'
Admiral Leahy estimated that with
an $80,000,000 expenditure Guam
could be made difficult for a posi-
BILE enemy to take. Something in
the neighborhood of 5000 900 ,OOO
would be necessary to make it i'm
pregnable, he said.
The admiral hastened to add that
the Navy had nc such project in
mind at present
He contended the proposed S.
100000 outlay would be of value to
commercial aviation and would
enable the Navy to send planes to
Guam.
Limit on Profits Asked.
| AS the Senate resumed debate on
the administrations 1858 900, 900 de-
fense bill, two Senators suggested
that an anti-war-profits amendment
be written into the legislation.
Senator Tobey, Republican, of
| (Co. NCIu3NICO