Evening star., 1940-07-11
i. ). Fortified Bases
In Nova Scotia and
Bermuda Proposed
House Committee
Finds Coastal Defenses
'DepIorobIy Weak
b. the Associated Press.

By the Associated PRESS.
Three members of the House
Military Committee, after survey
ing Northeast coast defenses, recon-
r1enGed today United States &C
QUESTION and fortification of fleet
and air bases in Nova Scotia and
Bermuda.
The report was made by Repre-
sentatives Smith. Democrat, of
Connecticut; Faddis, Democrat, of
Pennsylvania and Byrns, Democrat,
of Tennessee.
Mr.. Smith said he proposed either
purchase or lease of bases in Ber-
muda and Nova Scotia right away"
Although the survey was confined
to the Northeast coast from New
York to Maine, the three Repre-
sentatives reported they had mo
doubt but the same general con-
ditions prevail in other areas
They recommended modernization
and increasing strength of defenses
all along the Atlantic, Gulf and
West coasts.
Mr.. Smith estimated that the
undertaking for the continental
United States might cost $3.50 00O,-
600 and for New England alone
s60,000,000, not including improve
ments and an increase in air fields
in New England.
Even if bases were strongly for
tilted and securely held in Nova
Scotia and Bermuda" the report
said. "the harbors of the Northeast
must be denied to any enemy seek
ing to land mechanical forces on
destructive raids or full-scale in
vasions."
DefenseS Admitted Weak.
The members of Congress agreed
that coast defenses of the Atlantic
Northeast we're "deplorably weak, "
and added:
This area is most vital to our
national security, containing great
manufacturing centers especially
valuable to the munitions industry,
as we'll as the harbors and installa-
tions vital to the maintenance and
operation of our fleet
If the fleet were brought to the
Atlantic. Mr.. Smith said that the
Narragansett Bay area was best
suited for its base, and it should be
properly protected" He said,
Some work has been started"
Ten recommendation which the
committee members would apply
to the whole coast line of the United
States were:
81. Immediate additions to per-
sonnel sufficient to provide full
complement of enlisted men and
officers to man existing harbor de-
fenses, anti-aircraft batteries both
for the protection of gun batteries
and vital harbor installations.
q. Immediate rehabilitation of all
serviceable guns and con-
struction of such protection as is
possible for all batteries and other
installations against bombs and
bomb splinters. 1t seems to us the
mechanism for elevating and ira
versing the guns is particularly vul-
nerable to bomb splinters.
Good Airfields Proposed.
%. improvement of existing and
construction of new airfields for
use of a larger air force. We be-
lieve these fields should be sod
throughout, with buildings the type
of ordinary farm buildings. The
field at New London, Conn, is a
good example of an inconspicuous
landing field. More airplanes and
airplane personnel should be as
signed to these units to operate
with and be trained with them.
q. Speed up acquisition of mobile
enti-aircraft material, aircraft, mo-
tor torpedo boats of the Navy.
mines, f1re-control equipment and
heavy modern, long-range seacoast
batteries.
IS. Procurement of equipment
and organization and training of
personnel for fixing anti-aircraft
batteries of large caliber around
cities containing vital installations.
This personnel can come from addi-
tional National Guard or State
militia ypitc h1It tho ao,,ipy,aot