Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-29
Base in Bermuda

British decision to make available
to the United States sites for an air
base and possibly for a naval base in
the Great Sound of Bermuda must
be classified as one of the major de-
tense developments during the two
decades since the World War. It's
effect on the United States defense
| program for the Atlantic and Pan
anna Canal areas is nothing short Of
revolutionary.
Experience in the current Euro
pean struggle indicates that there
is no substitute for depth" in de-
Tense. England has been driven to
very costly expedients to secure this
necessary depth in the North Sea.
Great fleets Of trawlers, tugs and
other small craft have been COM
mandeered and sent out to act both
as warning net against enemy air
craft and for the harassing effect Of
the anti-aircraft fire they could mus
ter to drive enemy bombers up to less
effective bombing attitudes. Even so,
these expedients have not been too
successful, because of the proximity
of England to the enemy ccupied
mainland.
To be really effective against
enemy air raids, interceptor aircraft
must have adequate warning so they
can meet the raiders well away from
vulnerable and costly detectives, and
ground defenses must be put on the
alert. With the increasing speed Of
aircraft, the distance required for
the necessary warning net increases
in proportion.
One of the primary weaknesses of
our Atlantic coast defenses has been
this same lack of depth which has
handicapped the British. In event
Of war we should have been put to
the same expedients the British have
been forced to adopt.
For this reason, the permission for
the United States to use Bermuda is
an event out of all proportion to the
mere acquisition Of another air or
naval base. 1t makes possible the
development Of a defense with ade-
quate depth and would permit air
and naval units to meet enemy ag-
erosion far out in the Atlantic in
the full force which can be achieved
only by short-range operation from
an adequate base.
The location Of the Bermudas,
from the standpoint of our defense
requirements, is almost ideal. This
little group of $50 coral islands is
about 700 miles from New York, al
most due east of Savannah, Ga.
To find the same sort of a base in
the Pacific, the United States had to
60 to the Hawaiian Islands where,
on Oahu, the Army and Navy have
established one of the most formid-
able island defense installations in
the world. In the case of Oahu,
| however, the distance has been too
great, until within the past year or
two, for bridging by air.
In the defense of the Panama Ca
nal-characterized as "the lifeline Of
American defense"-Bermuda also
will play vital role. 1t will make
possible a double "echelon in depth"
of the defense forces, serving as an
advance base for the defense in the
West Indies.
The climate of the Bermudas, long
| famous with tourists, Is conducive to
year-round air and sea maneuvers
from bases there. This should be
another important factor in the
training of the expanding American
defense forces.
Great Britain, long appreciative Of
the strategic character of the Ber-
mudas in the Atlantic, has main
tanned a naval base there for many
years.
Great Sound, chief harbor Of the
islands, is landlocked body of we'll
| SllClOClC GU "dtC1 oSSdPJAA6 cAAS AAoAAO"
J of the fish hook" at the western end
of Bermuda Island, largest OF the
group. The entrance to the sound is
from the north, between Ireland Is
land on the west and Spanish Point
on the east. The sound Is about
three by five and one-half miles in
maximum dimensions and contains
many small islands. There are out
lying reefs to break the force of the
sea.
British American agreement per-
hitting the joint use of these stra-
logically important islands, if fol-
lowed by the prompt military i'm
provements its Importance warrants,
should do much to increase the Sc
curity of the whole Western Henri
sphere.
A number of American colleges