Evening star., 1947-10-04

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia By Air MaiD A
desert peninsula that for centuries past has
known no form Of transportation other than
quietly plodding camel caravans Is going strictly
modern these days.
Tanning out from this little Persian Gulf
community that bids fair in the next few years
to become the largest single American colony
in foreign land is network OF air transport
that not only brings most of Arabia's major
cities within few hours of each other, but
also provides direct service to all the great
cities of the world.
Bascally, it is an American creation born out
OF wartime strategic considerations and being
perpetuated today by the oil-f1nanced renais-
sance OF traditionally nomadic people.
The hub of this 20th-century system is
modern airport built in 1856 by United
States Army engineers and far exceeding IN
it's completeness and comfort the comparable
terminals servicing such European capitals as
Paris, Rome and Athens. Located on
naturally hard and level expanse about four
miles in from the gulf coast, the field has
two concrete runways of 5000 and 1000 feet
length with clear approaches for miles in each
direction. Constructed of stone and concrete
block, terminal building houses offices for
airport administration. passport control. Gus
toms, passenger handling, restaurant and an
operating tower. Nearby are hangers for main
tenance and parking purposes.
Construction of the field was undertaken
when the end Of the war in Europe loomed as
a certainty and the problem arose OF shifting
men, material and aircraft into the Aslatlc-
Pacific theater. great American Army held
already had been built and placed in operation
at Abadan, at the head of the Persian Gulf
- D~tf; cfrrJnt i'm
and operation existed on Bahrein Island.
Sharjah, Ras ell Had and one or two smaller
points near the mouth of the gulf, en- route to
Karachi, India.
The anticipated volume of traffic in all types
and sizes of aircraft and the advantages OF
an American controlled airfield, however made
the Dhahran project one of obvious wisdom.
Saudi Arabia Owns Airfield
Completion of the field was accomplished in
March, 1916, and by terms of agreement between
the United States and Saudi Arab governments
its permanent ownership was vested IN the
latter. United States military occupation and
administration of the airport was agreed upon
until March, 1s49, however, and Is still in
effect.
With the ending OF the Asiatic war during
the airfield construction period a supple
mentary agreement was entered into by which
the United States Air Forces were committed
to the responsibility of training native Saudi
Arabs in all the varied aspects OF airport
administration. Initiation OF this program
languished for several months, but early this
year, under direction of 1t Col. Dale s. SEEDS,
commanding officer of the field, comprehen-
sive training agenda was drawn up and is now
in it's first stages. Thirty carefully chosen
young Arabs, selected by their own government,
are enrolled and initial results have been
both interesting and encouraging
Decision was made in the beginning to
conduct the training on military routine by
which the candidates are aroused by reveille,
police their own mess, have brief period OF
army drill, break up into groups for their
specialized instruction and finally are bedded
down by taps A Saudi Arab major is IN
direct command of his group and functions
in turn under the commanding officer OF the
field Some already speak English with varying
degrees of proficiency and the rest are learning.
These boys are bright and friendly and
they are beginning to love the job," Col. Seeds
told me- Il had some doubts at first about
putting them on American-type rations, but
don't have any now. Next to eating they like
to salute"