Evening star., 1939-01-15

improving and strengthening the sea-
coast defenses of Panama, Hawaii and
the Continental United States. The Pam
anna program would include construc-
tion of an essential defense highway out
side the limits of the Canal Zone itself.
The $65 100000 Navy item would in
clude $44 ,000, 900 for creation or strength
ening of Navy bases in both oceans, in
general accordance with recommended
tions of the Hepburn Board, submitted
to Congress early this month. This
board has recommended development of
three principal air bases on each coast
at Jacksonville, Fla Norfolk, Va: near
Narragansett, at Seattle, San Francisco
and San Diego. Bases at Sitka and
Kodiak Alaska, also are recommended.
Construction Of defenses at Guam and
Puerto Rico and establishment of a
small submarine and air base at Wake
Island are other features of the report.
The Panama Canal, characterized as
the military lifeline" for either national
or continental defense, received special
consideration in the Presidents special
message, which recommended appropria-
ton OF $27,O00,O00 for improving defenses
of the Canal Zone.
The peace garrison at Panama is in
adequate to defend the canal and the
deficiency cannot be corrected with exist
ing forces without seriously jeopardizing
the general defense by stripping the con-
tlnental United States of harbor defense
and anti-aircraft personnel, the Presi-
dent said He asked that IS 900 900 be
made available at once to provide for
Initiation Of necessary construction work
in the Canal Zone.
Guam Plans Meet Criticism.
The proposal to fortify Guam and
establish there submarine and air base
appeared to have touched off more seri-
GUS controversy than any other portion
OF the entire defense program. Congress
sional opponents denounced the Guam
proposal as pointing toward complete
reorientation of this country's Far East
ern policies. The President in his de-
tense message indorsed the Hepburn
Boards suggestion that major air and
submarine base be established at Guam
only $500 miles from Toxic.
The Guam base, according to the naval
board, would assure practical immunity
OF the Philippines against a major at
tack, reduce to simplest terms the de-
tense OF Hawaii and the Pacific Coast
of the United States and assure the
ability of the United States fleet to on
crate with greater freedom in meeting
emergency conditions that might arise
in the Atlantic.
Under the Washington naval treaty of
1922 Japan agreed not to fortify its man
dated islands in the vicinity of Guam.
The treaty has expired and some mem
bers of Congress have charged Japan
already is going ahead with Notifications.
Although President Roosevelt at no
time has mentioned any specific potential
enemy, the emphasis which has been
placed on speedy development of an over
whelming air power leaves little doubt
as to the nature of the threat against
which safeguards are being erected. Only
one major military power in Europe Of
fers any comparable air threat-Nazi
Germany.
American knowledge of German air
developments is based upon reports from
various sources, among them Col. Charles
A. Lindbergh, whose regular reports to
the National Advisory Committee for
| Aeronautics, of which he is a member
have been described as of great value to
the United States in connection with
! formulation of its air policies.
"Air power at the present time is a
dominant factor in the strength of ma
ton and in enabling it to maintain its
Independent existence and territorial in
| tegrity," the N. A. c. A. said in its recent
report to Congress. Accepted theories
(Ses AFNdAMENTs, Page C-3)