Evening star., 1942-06-14
Leaders in Congress
Not Undu|y Alarmed
By AIeutian Landinq
BorkIey and Connolly
Regard Jup Actions as
Merely 'Foee-Sovine'
Bx GOULD LINCOLN.

Congressional leaders, among
them Senate Majority Leader Bark
ley and Chairman Connally OF the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee, yesterday declared themselves
not alarmed over reports that small
japanese armed forces had landed
on the tip of the Aleutian Archi-
pelago.
Without attempting to qualify as
strategic experts, these Senators eX-
pressed the opinion that it was only
a question of time and weather until
American forces blasted the Japs
from this area.
The picture. they admitted, might
have been different had not Ameri-
can forces disastrously defeated the
Japanese in the battles of Midway
and the Coral Sea. They were in
clined to view the landings on the
tiny island of Attu as merely
"face-saving" action on the part of
the Japanese after they had suf-
fered severe naval losses in other
AREAS.
Some Voice Exceptions.
The views Of Senators Barkley
and Connally were generally con-
CURED in by other Senators and
members Of the House, although
there were exceptions. Senator
Thomas, Democrat, of Utah. rank
ing member of the Military Affairs
Committee after Chairman Rey-
nolds, expressed the opinion that
the landing at Attu was no iso-
lated action.
1T may we'll be followed up with
stronger forces, and on other islands
in the Aleutian group" said Senator
Thomas. I'VE must not underesti-
mate the Japanese They must be
dlslodged as quickly as possible"
Senator Lucas. Democrat, of Illi-
nois said he believed the Alaskan
area may well become the scene
OF major engagements. He and
other Senators pointed out the
strategic position of Alaska and the
Aleutians in the war. The forces
controlling and using bases. naval
and air, in those regions, he said,
could deliver attacks either in this
country or in Japan.
Senators Shipstead, Republican.
OF Minnesota; Hill, Democrat, of
Alabama and Lee, Democrat, of
Oklahoma were others who said they
thought American forces should and
would quickly drive the japanese
from these landings. The fact that
the Americans had been successful
at Midway would make it possible.
they believed, to send the necessary
forces to sweep the Japanese from
the Aleutians.
Holman Concerned.
Senator Holman. Republican, of
Oregon expressed concern over the
Japanese approach. He said it
would be serious if the enemy should
succeed in building an air base on
any of these islands.
Members of Congress said they
had no definite information re-
garding the forces of the United
States in Alaska. at Dutch Harbor,
which was attacked recently by
japanese air forces, or in the Aleu-
tian Islands generally. They said
they were confident, however, that
these forces had been materially
strengthened since the beginning of
the war.
Great satisfaction over the defeats
of the Japanese at Midway and the
Coral Sea battles was voiced by the
legislators.
The British Russian treaty also
came in for its share of praise. Sena-
tor Austin of Vermont, assistant
Republican leader called it an i'm
portant step looking to better post
war conditions. In the treaty, Brit
ain and the Soviet undertake to
unite with 'other like minded states
in adopting proposals for common
action to preserve peace and resist
aggression in the postwar period"