The Wrangell sentinel., 1942-07-31
DiInOnd Accuses Army Of COmplacency
 In Alaska War

tive over che War Departments lack of concern toward Japanese encroaebments ia Alaska was fur- nishea today hg remarks made by Anthony J. Dimoud. Delegate from Alaska and Representative Jack Nichols. Democrat of Oklahoma. who completed an unofficial air inspection frip To the territory a few days before Dutch Hafbor was bombed.
 While both men carefully avoided discussing any matters that Iall m- der the ban of military secrecy. shey eouearred in the general view that there was much room for im- provement in the handling of af- fairs in lha northwestern American outpost
 Mr Dimond told q correspondent that he believes the Army and Ma " are showing entirely Goo much eompIaceney1 over events in Alaska and that the nations high com maud has almost treated Alaska like a stepehiId and has been meas urably uueoncerued oyer the seiz- Ire of Attu. Kiska and Agattu.a
 Begged" War Department
 Mr Nichols not only echoed this view but said that he had beg ged high ranking men in the War Department both verbally and in writing. To go To Alaska and see for themselves what is needed. He said he had had no results.
 Mr. Dimond. whose biography iu the Congressional Directory lists him as both a prospector and law yer, and shows that his knowledge Of Alaska was gained over d period Of more than thirty years. declared that "a grievous mistake is beinl made in not driving the Japanes- out now.
 If we cannot hold the North Continent he continued how can We expect to do anythin anywhere2 If We haven't gol enough power to drive them on now, how can We expect to driya them out when they get establish ed? II the Japanese develop Ki5ka fully, they can have all the land based bOmbers there that they want. Then We may have to send carriers in against land based bombers, and it will be tough for by holding the sections of the Aleu- tians that they have gained the Jap anese will have the equivalent If non-sinkable carriers.
 Fears Attack on Pribilofs
 MT. Dimond said that if Japanese could hold the Aleutian points, the day may not be for distant when they could move against the prib- ilof Islands and St. Lawrence Is- land, thus permitting harassment of the best American air route to Rus sia.
 We are endeayOrfng to send aid to Russia as part of our agreed-up- on policy he said. The closest, easiest and least dangerous route is by air over Alaska. If the Japanese occupy the Pribilofs and St. Law renee, then we'd have light OR our hands every time We tried to get through by air. We all knots about the forecasts that the Japan ese are getting ready to move Into eastern Siberia. The chances ars that it will take plenty Of aid Iro.4 us for the Russians to hold eastern Siberia,
 If the Japanese do take eastern Siberia, then they'll be only forty nine miles from Ameri:an territsry across the Bering Strait.
 Furthermore, with every forward step We permit the Japanese to take either in Alaskan waters or in eastern Siberia. we are making 1t more difficult for us 10 bomb Japan"
 Mr. Dimond said he was getting just a bit weary of hearing a. bout "the difficulty of operating in the fog up there" As if the Jap- anese didn't operate in the fog" he said.
 MT. Dimond made available part oA 1ettef rom q longtime Nome resident who was telling of some steps that had to be taken. This part of the letter said:
 Much of this was brought about by bulletins that were posted and printed in the newspaper similar to the one enclosed herewith. These bulletins threw some of our popula- ton into panic as you can well understand it would. Please under stand that I do not mention this to be considered in any manner as criticism but merely to give you the picture of what is occurring here"
 The bulletin enclosed by the resi- dent was a United States Army bull
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