Evening star., 1939-02-23

establish base for Navy scouting
planes on the far-away Pacific
island of Guam.
BY the Associated Press.
While the House approached a
vote on the controversial Guam
naval project, two developments
raised the possibility today that
Congress might expand the Army
Air Corps beyond the $500 planes
authorized by the House.
l. The Senate received from its
Military Affairs Committee unan-
mous recommendation that the
Army plane limit be raised to 5000.
2. Chairman Sheppard of the COM
mittee made public a February 3
letter from Secretary of War Wood
ring suggesting that no maximum
be set on the number of aircraft
the Army could acquire.
Secretary Woodring urged that all
limits be removed so that if mass
production of planes made possible
without additional cost, the Army
could take advantage of the oppor-
tunity.
Senator Sheppard said the War
Department head appeared pleased
by the Senate committees recon-
mendation for an increase in the
House figure
Chairman May of the House Mil
itary Committee predicted his group
would approve the increase, but
there were indications of opposition
from other members.
Approves Army Expansion.
The Senate committee, in favor
ing the Air Corps development, ap-
proved yesterday the Army expan-
sion measure constituting the bulk
of the administration defense pro-
gram. It voted to authorize $23, ,750.-
600 to strengthen Panama Canal
defenses and $34 100000 to train
private industry in munitions pro-
duction.
This was $4,000 900 more than the
sum in the bill as approved by the
House.
Fiery debate over the $4,000
Guam project diverted attention OF
the House from the rest OF the
naval air base program. With scarce
ly any discussion, it tentatively ap-
proved II other projects in the bill
yesterday. They included new air
bases in Alaska, the mid-Pacif1c and
Puerto Rico, as well as expansions
at existing domestic stations
Critics denounced the Guam de-
velopment, however, as the first step
toward complete fortification OF the
island and measure likely to en-
. nance the danger OF war.
Plan Vigorously Supported.
It was Just as vigorously supported
by members who said it would save
American lives" if war should come
in the Pacific.
Representative Van Zandt, Repub-
lican, of Pennsylvania, former ma
tional commander of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars, sought to link the
project to the recent visit to this
country of Anthony Eden, former
British foreign minister
I'VE heard nothing of Guam be-
fore his VISIT" Representative Van
Zandt said, adding he was convinced
that if Guam were fortified, the
United States would have air
squadrons on the island for the sole
purpose of aiding Great Britain in
event Of attacks of her Far Eastern
possessions.
Representative Shannon, Demo-
crat, of Missouri said approval of
the Guam project will cause almost
every mother and father to have the
iitters." He asserted Japan ap-
parently was determined to dominate
the Orient and that sooner or later
the United States would find itself
in a war with Japan over the Philip
pine Islands.
"Save American Lives"
Representative 1zac, Democrat, OF
California responded by asserting
his belief that the near future would
bring no war in which the United
States would participate.
But if war does come" he said
"Ill say to my friend from Missouri
that he'll save American lives by
having that outpost (Guam) there. y
Representative Mas, Republican
Of Minnesota said opponents of the
proposal were making mountain
out of holehill."
He declared Japan has many
Islands, better prepared than Guam
would be under the naval proposal,
1000 miles nearer this country than
Guam is to Japan.
One change made in the Army bill
by the Senate committee was for
the purpose of clarifying House
provision giving National Guard
and Reserve personnel who suffer
death or accident while on active
duty the same pensions, compensa-
ton and other treatment as re-
ceived by personnel of the Regular