Evening star., 1941-02-13
Army Lets Contracts
To Fortify Six New
Atlantic Bases
First Cost Is SI3,706, 900
And TotuI Is Estimated
At S102, 100000

The War Department announced
today the award of contracts for
construction of military fortifica-
tions at six Of the eight Atlantic
bases recently acquired from Great
Britain.
Undersecretary Patterson said the
contracts. approved only last night,
called for initial expenditures of
s13,706,0O0. He estimated the total
cost of the Notifications at the six
bases would be s102 100000
The bases at which work is to be
rushed as fast as possible are those
In Bermuda. Newfoundland, British
Guiana, Trinidad and the Islands
of st. Lucia and Antigua.
Sites Chosen at Two Others.
Contracts for construction of bases
at Jamaica and in the Bahamas are
omitted at this time, he explained
at press conference, because the
State Department has not completed
details of negotiations. Sites for
these two bases have been selected
and approved, however, and prelim-
mary architectural and engineering
surveys are quite we'll under way
Mr.. Patterson said
He also disclosed that the Gov
ernment is assigning a military at
tache to its Legation at Dublin,
Ireland. for the first time Maj.
John w. Wofford, cavalry, is the new
attache. Up to now the American
Embassy at London has included
the Dublin Office in the scope of its
military observations, but due to the
tremendous increase" in RESPONSE
bilities since the outbreak of the
European war, it was deemed ad-
visable to relieve the London office
of this burden.
Mr.. Patterson, in reply to ques-
ton stated the move was not made
on the assumption that Ireland is
likely to be invaded at any time
soon.
Balloon Squad to Be Formed.
The War Department also has
taken steps, he announced, to or
ganize a permanent barrage balloon
squadron for use in defense against
air raids.
The Sd Balloon Observation Squad
ron at Fort Lewis, Wash, Mr.. Pat
terson said, has been changed to
harrage balloon squadron. This will
be mobile unit patterned and
trained after the fashion of barrage
balloon squadrons used in the air
defenses of England Germany and
Italy.
The Army has been making tests
with barrage balloons suspended by
heavy cables for a year or more, Mr.
Patterson explained but has not
done anything with them as a unit
or on an extensive scale.
The British believe they are very
protective against air raids by COM
pelling planes to keep at such high
attitudes as to eliminate the effec-
tiveneSS Of their aim" the Under
secretary added. I'VE have been in
formed that Germany and Italy also
are using barrage balloons in zones
open to air attacks
Could Be Moved Easily.
AS a mobile unit, he said, the
equipment could be transported
easily by truck to any designated
place
In connection with the fortiflca-
ton of Atlantic bases, Mr.. Patterson
said the initial cost was being de-
frayed from the S25,000,000 fund
placed at the disposal of President
Roosevelt for this purpose. Owing
to the size of the total cost. he said,
it would be necessary for Congress
to make appropriations from time to
time.
The contracts awarded last night
are for work undertaken only by the
Army. since naval contracts will be
made separately. The naval work
undertaken at these bases will con-
sist chiefly of the building Of docks.
The contracts were awarded to
leading firms of New York, Chicago,
81. Paul. Minneapolis and Daven-
port. Iowa.
Big GarriSOiis Planned
The bases will house substantial
gerrisons,' Mr. Patterson said, rang
ing from 1000 to $1,000 men, de-
pending on strategic positions The
three largest bases will be those in
Newfoundland, Trinidad and Ber-
muda. Work will involve the con-
struction of Notifications, barracks,
landing fields, storage and utility
facilities.
The work has been placed in
charge of the Engineer Corps, so far
as the War Department is concerned,
under a special construction divis-