The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-08-10
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50URD0UGHS QUERIED FOR
 ARMY AIDING
(Fairbanks News Miner)

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 Alaska's grizzled sourdoughs were called upon by the United States Army today to reveal secrets which will prevent northland soldiers from becoming babes in the woods when the snow flies steeply, and the mercury thuds in the sub-zero depths of its thermometric cham Der.
 Colonel Simon Buckner Jr him. self is knocking on the cabin doors of trail-hardened dogmusherS and winter-tested trappers to get the lowdown on living and working with the minimum of discomfort and danger during the arctics six month night.
 Appointed General
 Colonel Buckner-on the brink of generaldom-is commanding of ficer of all Alaska defense forces.
 In Fairbanks today the colonel, who wifi become Brigadier General Buckncr August 31, affirmed his intentions of concentrating on training of troops to the cold weather technique.
 Fresh from the maSSiVe-Scale "blitzkrieg' tactics which pitted 6O,000 rival troops of the United States Army against each other over Louisiana land and streams in this country's largest mock war maneuvers, Colonel Buckner indi- cated some such northern counter part of this military rehearsal may be conducted in Alaska during the coming months.
 Transfer Coincidence
 Most of the cold weather equip ment necessary for troops to be stationed at Fairbanks and An chorage has already been ordered, the colonel said. No definite plans as to when and where movements of troops in the northland will be practiced have yet been established, he stated.
 Transfer of Colonel Buckner to Alaska switched the high officer almost from extreme to extreme of the nations continental military bases. The Alaska commanders last post was as Chief of Staff of the Sixth Division, headquarters at Camp Jackson, South Carolina.
 Alaska had been on his preferred card many years, he said.
 His appointment to Alaska came ! in unexpected fulfilment of a cas- ual remark he dropped upon leav- ing South Carolina after receiving orders to report to Fort Lewis Washington,
 T just happened to remark to a friend of mine" said the colonel, that I thought we ought to have one general officer for Alaska s defense forces"
 When he reached San Francisco after voyaging via the Panama Canal Colonel Buckner was hand ed a radiogram informing him he was to be Commander General in Alaska.
 He will assume the grade of Brigadier General August 31, with the retirement of Brigadier Gen eral Asa Singleton of Fort Benning Georgia
 Alaska Prospects Although no definite decision has been forthcoming from the War Department as to the total num- i Der of troops to be stationed in Alaska immediately, temporary ac- commodations under construction at Anchorage will house 5000, Colonel Buckner said
 In addition to an anticipated three Air Corps squadrons, bring ing a total Of about 50 planes, 35 officers, and perhaps 400 enlisted men. Anchorage is in line for units of infantry, anti-aircraft, and ar tillery troops.
 The composite squadron to be based at Fairbanks, composed of one of every type of craft in use by the Army will bring at least 50 Air Corps men here. No definite word has been received on whether other troops will be based at Fair banks.
 Eventually. Alaska may be or ganized as Separate Army de- pertinent, the colonel predicted.