The Wrangell sentinel., 1941-08-15
OUR SECRET ALASKA ARMY

OUR SECRET" ALASKA ARMY
Chances are we are just paving
the way for a trip to the brig or
perhaps more properly known as the
Army guardhouse. but the recent
mail brings a communication from
Lieut.. Owen g. Mckevitt. Public
Relations Officer OF the Alaska De
tense Command, I. S. Army, high
lights of which strikes US worthy OF
publication even II We have to do
a little time. Lieut.. MekeYitt, whose
headquarters is up at Fort Richard
son near Anchorage. although We
shouldn't have mentioned il, in
forms US that in the future the Ar
my is a deep, dark secret. No cen
sorship. mind you. Just "coopera-
ton.
Though the President has no
authority, as yet. to exercise con-
troll over communications in the
Territory. the strategic Importance
OF Alaska is such that any infor-
nation concerning the L. 5. Army
therein assumes a degree OF great
Importance and may be OF value 10
a potential enemy Lieut.. MekeYitt
writes. Therefore, We must ask your
cooperation in preventing the release
OF any information which We deem
vital concerning the I. S. Army in
Alaska. Which is a fair enough
request. Then follows a list of Army
activities which are not 10 be used
as subject or news, discussion or
comment"
Here's a list of EN-:
Movement Of troops or airplanes,
either contemplated, current or COM
pleted; movement OF material or
supplies; detailed descriptions and
photographs of weapons and planes:
construction of airfields, housing
for soldiers or defense workers, or
any other defense works, either con-
templated, current or completed;
presence of high-ranking officers;
in no case the number OF the move
ment of troops or the designation of
the unit, and any information of
any sort which may disclose the
above either by influence, deduc-
ton or intimation."
In other words, the Army is re-
ported building bases at Anchorage,
Fairbanks, Annette Island and a
few other places but you are not
supposed to know anything about.
Congress quarreled over the amount
of the appropriations for months,
great volumes have been written re-
garding the Army's work in Alaska,
pictures of the bases have been
printed time and again. Every time
additional money is granted by Con-
gress, the list of bases on which the
money will be spent are listed. That
grand old provision about the free
dom of the press under out demo-
cratic form of government has en-
formed about what they are doing TO
defend and protect themselves. Am
orleans are among the few peoples
on earth who today still have the
privilege of controlling their Army
instead of the Army controlling the
people. We hope the system lasts
and We are confident it will, al
though it appears from Lieut.. Nc
Kevitt's communication that this
may be our last chance TO mention
the fact that the Army is building
some bases in Alaska, in case you
haven't been hearing about it for
the last few years.
In fairness. we should mention
that Lieut. McKeyitt says we ARE
welcome to publicize" athletic, So
cial, religious events and reviews
and ceremonies. All of which we are
glad to do, confident the Army is
to send something besides
a football team into action when the
time comes.
$3.50
Our associate, Winifred Williams,
got off for Watson Lake this week
to try and find out what's being
done at that Canadian air base
which figures rather Importantly in
the mutual defense of Alaska and
If We don't get another
communication from Lieut. McKeYitt
in the meantime, We trust she'll be
able to write something about it,
when she gets back.
FOR CATE n,,o Tho- rod;ot