The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-09-16

OUR NEW BASES
With Brazils declaration OF war
sEainst the Axis followed by Ecua-
doris consent TO our occupation Of
the Galapagos ISLANDS, and the
granting TO US o; tle coastal port
OF santa Elena as bases for our
defense OF the Panama Canal and
Central America from the Pacific
side troubles dre piling up for Herr
Hitler
The key Requirement, for homis-
pheTig dsIeu> 8, that our ba> rs
should ne located in south America
below both the EAST and west bulSeS
Of that continent Now this is an
accomplished iact-Brazl on the
east Goa 70 and Ecuador on the west.
II appears that all OF the northern
nations OF South America down TO
the extreme southern end Of the
continent are with Us. Chile and
Arg entina are still remaining neu-
trial and conducting normal Tela-
tions with th- Axis nations But
there is reason 20 believe that these
Two countries will eventually come
wholsh5artediy into our Good
Neighhor American solidarity all
other South american nations hav-
lng set this Example
Our defense Of the Panama Ca
nsl from the east or Caribbean side
i now perfectly set up with our
numerous Protective island bases
joining the mainland of both North
end South America Therefore.
this acquiring Of bases in the PaCi-
fc should cheer the United Ma.
tlons Our eastern string OF pro-
tectiye bases was completed long
ago when President Roosevelt
traded 80 OF our destroyers TO CIR at
Britain. The largest and most
disable Of several groups OF islands
IN the Pacific Ocean west Of the
Panama Canal are the Galapagos
which are approximately a thou.
Sand miles southwest OF the Pacific
entrance to the canal. and about
600 miles due west OF the coast of
Ecuador. They are volcanic Islands
discovered in 1892 and In 1892
we're officially renamed the Colin
Archipelago They have total
area OF 400 square miles. and at
places rise TO a height OF 3 800 feet
The largest island is ALTERNATE
which is 50 miles long They are
all quite arid. though turtles Of
tremendous size are caught there.
Cotton, figs, oranges. and tobacco
have been planted with some sue
cess. The permanent population
is not over 500 people
Ecuador has a penal settlement
on Charles Island, one OF the Gala
pages group. where her most des-
perate criminals are sent The
islands provide ample and excellent
naval, air. and submarine base IA.
cilities which make a wonderful
protective area In conjunction with
the mainland base al Santa Elena
This coastal city is at the extreme
western edge Of Ecuador II Is at
the southern end OF the Santa
Elena Bay and the northern point
of the great Gulf Of Guayaquil In
other words, 1t is ideal for defense
purposes.
The other islands IN this general
location are OF considerable inter
est During late 1870, or early
1871 the Cocos Island. which is
about midway between Galapagos
and the canal. was mentioned as a
desirable defense base for our
forces How yer, Il vas stated
later that due TO its physical ma
ture and size 1t was impossible 10
use Cocos as base
The Chpperton Island which is
north and west Of Galapagos. about
thousand miles west OF the Pana-
ma Canal. and 500 miles west Of
Costa Rica. has been discussed con
siderably because il wa French al
the outbreak OF the present world
conflict This island is said 20 bs
uninhabited. Many years ago 80
Mexican Gueno hunters were left
there by an American company
which In some manner forgot them
Thirty years later a boat accidental
ly found the surviyors-two women
and a man. The island is said t.
have only an area OF about three
and one-tenth square miles 7
is circular In shape and enclose.
lagoon OF some size. There s.
no entrance - this body OF watel
that could be used by either boat,
or submarines Il Is. however. {,
certain extent sheltered and con
tains ave small islets called IN,
eggs which. in this condition. woult
make the landing q sesplane on n,
lagoon dificult or impossible Tn
height Of the island is only 4
feet though there Is one So FOO
rock on its southeastern edge
Some time IN 1910 or l94t Frenc
varships we're reported 10 hay
been sighted OF this Island Gu
Pacific patrol has. or course. KEEP
very close touch with this situa
ton and addition OF the GalspaFo
as a Pacific Ocean protective bas
for the Panama Canal makes GU
Western machinery for defens
about a hundred per cent NOR
effective
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