Evening star., 1939-02-24
A Blow to Defense

IL Is leSlelldUle IIldG Cllc I1OuoC
should have voted to exclude from
the vital naval air base bill the S.
100000 project for harbor improve
ments at Guam, our small but i'm
portant insular possession in the
Pacific Ocean. Apparently this action
resulted largely from miSunder-
standing as to the scope and purpose
of the proposed works, coupled with
fears-surely not based on anything
tangible - that the development
would be an affront to Japan and
might even provoke war in the
Pacific.
A reading of the record of heated
debate on the Guam proposal dis
closes that most of the opponents OF
the plan could not or would not draw
a distinction between actual fortifi-
cation of the island, as recommended
by the Hepburn Board, and the in
offensive program of harbor improve
ments called for in the bill. The
program disapproved by the House
provided for not a single gun or
emplacement, for nothing that could
be construed by Japan or any other
nation as an aggressive move. It in
cluded merely erection of break
water on the north of Apra Harbor
to provide safer landing and mooring
facilities for seaplanes Of trans
Pacific commercial airlines and for
naval patrol planes, with removal of
certain coral formations hindering
entrance and exit of planes.
1t was not proposed to establish
deep anchorage for the fleet nor to
ring the island with steel in Maginot
Line fashion. Nor was it intended to
add Guam to Americas first line of
defense in the Pacific. This line now
extends theoretically from Unalaska
through Hawaii to the Panama
Canal. Neither the contemplated
harbor work nor actual fortif1cation
Of the island would involve any
change in this Pacific frontier-but
naval strategists point out that de-
velopment of Guam as a scouting
base for planes would be to the
Navy's Pacific force what an advance
observation post is to an entrenched
defense army. If an enemy fleet
sought to attack the United States
or its possessions from Oriental
waters, our air scouts, the "eyes OF
the fleet" based at Guam would be
in strategic position to discover the
movement, to flash a warning to the
main defense line in the rear and to
impede the invaders progress. With
out Guam's help, our fleet would be
compelled to weaken its line by de-
taching surface craft to perform the
advance scouting work.
1t seems clear, therefore, that the
preparation of Guam as safe har-
Dor not only for commercial aircraft,
but for naval scouting planes is
essential to the Nations security.
Indeed, there is no sound basis other
than cost for objecting to complete
fortification of the island. Fears of
offending Japan have little sub
stance. Japan, as matter of fact,
appears to be much less disturbed
about Guam than some of our own
legislators. The Japanese navy min
lister was quoted recently as advising
the Diet that the Japanese Navy lis
not attaching much Importance to
the Guam ISSUE" If Japan were,
there would be all the more reason
for our fortifcation of the island.
The Senate can aid in rectifying the
mistake made yesterday by the House
by reinserting the Guam provision in
the naval air base bill and insisting
on its retention. The House should
be given a chance to reconsider it's
action on the all-important Guam
project.