Evening star., 1941-02-16


territory under japanese Man.
date.
BY the Associated Press.
Development of Guam and Samoa
Pacific ISLANDS. as naval aviation
lookout stations" was recon-
nended unanimously late yesterday
by the House Naval Affairs Com
mittee after it heard secret testi-
mony from the Navy high COM
mand regarding the Far Eastern
situation.
The committees recommended
tions were made in approving legls-
lation authorizing expenditure OF
approximately s400,000000 for eX-
pansion of many existing naval
shore bases and establishment of
new facilities. Funds for a large
part of the work we're requested by
President Roosevelt earlier in the
week.
There was no discussion of the
Guam or Samoan projects at public
sessions of the committee, but
Chairman Vinson told newsmen the
subject was thoroughly explored
when the legislators went over the
entire program behind closed doors
with Admiral Harold R. Stark, chief
of naval operations.
Members Cautioned.
Representative Vinson cautioned
members of the committee against
discussing, even among themselves,
the proceedings of the secret ses-
sion. He told reporters it was "a
highly important executive session"
and when asked whether it dealt
with reports of growing tension IN
the Pacific replied that the legisla-
ton was considered in the light
of the world situation"
AS approved by the committee,
the bill would authorize eXpendl-
ture of S4.700,000 at Guam for bomb
proof shelters for personnel, COM
munications centers, and to make
the harbor usable by both large
and small surface vessels and sea-
planes.
Rear Admiral Ben Moreell, chief
of the Bureau of Yards and Docks,
testified that the Guam project was
virtually the same as that rejected
by Congress twice since 1888.
At Samoa. far to the south OF
Guam and in a direct line from
Honolulu to New Zealand and Aus
tralia, the Navy would be authorized
to spend s8.100.000 for expansion of
the relatively minor facilities now
at Tutuila. bombprooflng of vital
centers and establishments OF air
craft operating facilities.
Importance Is Stressed.
The committee was told by Navy
officials that the project was impor-
tant because the development Of
aviation had brought the islands
into the strategic picture" in the
Pacific. Informed sources said an
outpost there would be extremely
valuable in the event of hostilities
involving long range blockade such
as has been suggested might result
if trouble developed between the
United States and Japan.
The bill also provides for con-
greSsional sanction for development
OF the Atlantic base sites obtained
from England.
The committee agreed on an
amendment which would authorize
the work and limit the total cost
OF the Nays share to S1l6,050 900.
Admiral Moreell testified that work
under way. chiefly with
money from President RooSeveltS
fund, would cost about
S62 100000. Besides the naval ex-
penditureS, the Army expects to
spend about s102 100000 Oh the bases.
Marine Training Center.
In addition to approval of the
legislation, the committee recon-
mended establishment of a $4,000
900 Marine Corps training center
on the East Coast for ground forces
and aviation.
Maj. Gen. Thomas Holcomb, COM
of the Marine Corps, told
the committee the new center would
be established in North Carolina on
a tract of about 100000 acres near
the village of Jacksonville, in Onslow
County. The land would cost some
thing over S1,000,00O, he said.
Informed sources said the new
marine training center would pro-
vide ample room for a full divi-
sion OF marines to maneuver. would
permit them to fire all their COM
pat weapons and, in addition,
would give them a 4-mile stretch of
beach on the ocean front on which
to practice landings.
Gen. Holcomb told the committee
the facilities at the only other East
Coast Marine Corps base, Quantico.
Va, we're entirely inadequate" for
the training of the increased num-
Der OF marines to be stationed in
the East as result of the Navy's
strengthening of its Atlantic Fleet
Among the major items included
In the legislation were a s35, 900 900
fleet anchorage in the Vieoues
puerto Rico area and an $780,
600 expansion of the new naval
supply depot at Oakland, Calf.
Naval air stations in Alaska, on
mid Pacific islands and in the
Caribbean would be expanded un-
der the legislation, and numerous
additional naval hospital facilities
would be provided.
In response to questions, Admiral
Moreell said the Navy had adopted
a policy of storing gasoline under
ground at all stations outside the
United States. The bill