The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-12-31
CAROLINA
FROM THE
CAPITAL
By ALLEN J. GREEN
Star-News Washington Bureau


WASHINGTON, Dec 3o-The Coast Guard,
after an investigation, has decided to retain
one Coast Guard fireboat and crew in service
at the Port of Wilmington in disbanding port
security force which has policed the harbor
since Pearl Harbor, Vice Admiral R. r.
Waesche, Coast Guard commandment. said to-
day in confirming previous announcements
The investigation followed complaints that
to demobilze the port security force COM
pletely would leave vital harbor facilities un.
guarded.
The decision to discontinue port security
activities in Wilmington was part of the Coast
Guards policy to confine such activities 10
the largest and most active ports in the coun-
try" Admiral Waesche wrote Representative
u. Bayard Clark
The changing war situation has made nee
essary certain adjustments in the port securi-
ty program in order to provide men needed
for the more urgent duty of manning addi-
tional vessels recently constructed for over
seas duty, for port security work beyond the
continental limits of the United States, and
for increased port security duties in West
Coast ports where shipping is becoming con-
stantly more active
This action which has largely been effect
ed in areas of the United States does not
constitute a lessening of the war effort but
merely reflects a change in emphasis made
necessary by the progress of the war.
"Futher investigation has been made with
respect to the question of continuing port Sc
curity activities in Wilmington. AS result
of this investigation and in view of state
ments made as to the Importance of his port
to the war effort it has been decided to re-
tain Coast Guard fireboat and crew in Will
mington to afford fire protection to impor-
tant waterfront facilities of the city. However,
for the reasons outlined above. it has been
found necessary to discontinue other port Sc
curity activities in this port.
You may be assured in this connection
that, if future developments in the progress
of the wa~ should dictate the necessity there
fore, the Coast Guard will take appropriate
action to adjust the protection for the Port
Of Wilmington to the new conditions.
The port security force at Wilmington con-
stituted one of the larger military forces sta
necessitating construction of barracks and
mooring of quaterboat at the Customhouse
wharf to house the personnel
NEW FACES
There will be number of new faces in
the staff of secretaries to members of the
North Carolina delegation when the 10th Con-
gress convenes next week. Jack Spain, former
mayor of Greenville and prominent eastern
Herbert Bonner of the First District. to be-
come secretary to the new junior senator,
Sen. Clyde R. Hoey. Joseph Butts, secretary
to Rep. John H. Kerr of the Second District,
and Percy Meekins, secretary to Rep Robert
L. Doughton of the Ninth District, have re-
signed to open law practices here. And North
Cardinals only freshman representative, Joe
w. Erwin of Charlotte. elected this year from
the Tenth District, will bring secretary of
his own.
WILL BE DELAYED
The reintroduction of the Rivers and Har-
bors bill in Congress will not be accomplished
until some half-dozen vacancies in House COM
mittees are filled, Representative Joseph j..
Mansfield, chairman Of the House Rivers and
Harbors committee declares
This bill. killed after a wrangle between
the Senate and House over inclusion of a
California irrigation measure, means about
81 SOC, 900 III port improvements to Wilmington.