The Daily Alaska empire., 1949-12-01
.M0NEY LACK
 PREVENTS 5. E.
 DEFENSE WORK
Twining Says First Things First" When Mayor, Ellis
 Ask Military Sefup

It is physically impossible at pre- sent to expand defenses in South east Alaska because the dollar governs according to Lieut.. Gen. Nathan F. Twining, chief of the Alaska Command.
 General Twining made this dec- laration in answer to pleas ty Mayor Waino Hendrickson of Ju- neau and Robert Ellis. represent ing the Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce, that airfields, roads. and other military facilities be allocated to the panhandle
 The closed discussion of military and government leaders being held in the Senate Chambers was opened temporarily to allow the two men to present views of this portion of Alaska.
 First things must come first" the General said. We must pay attention to key spots now-the No. 1 points--which is the primary aspect of our defense setup Things will happen here eventually. but the dollar won't stretch now. We're rot doing too well in locations we are working on now"
 PULLING VACUUM
 Hendrickson said this area feels itself "in more or less of vacuum" while military expansion goes on in the Interior. He said he felt Southeast Alaska would benefit and progress if more active support was given for harbor improvements, dredging operations and road program.
 Very little has been done here" he said, "other than communica- ton expansion. Our waterwass 5 aren't developed, and water is our road, we are told when we ask for more roads
 Tt is time for a secondary pro- gram to begin here now-during peacetime," he continued, i've need help along with the Interior. Our airfields are too far apart to allow air fighters-which are short range to operate here. We need fields which jets could operate from"
 General Twining said the mili- tary would endorse program of expansion for the panhandle, in answer to direct request from Hendrickson that endorsement be made. The mayor pointed out that peacetime program would aid the military in event of war. WANTS EXCESS"
 Ellis, who introduced himself as commander in the naval reserve and reviewed his wartime service in Alaska, asked that air facilities be put in excess of present needs, ir order to be ready for any emer- gency.
 "If the military would push for roads. civilians would tenefit.' he said "The Coast Guard should have more planes and ships-a stronger National Guard should be formed--port facilities should be appraised and program built up for them
 He also asked for strong steam- ship service, and stronger air services. Although he disclaimed representation of his Ellis Ar Lines serving this coast, he laugh ingly said
 We need steamers to carry the anvils--well carry the passengers" ]" He asked for stronger naval reserve program. pointing out the finest seamen in the world live in Alaska. He said 50-man bases should be established, rather than attempt the 200-man base used in the States
 COMPLIMENTS ACS A Civil Aeronautics Authority traffic control in excess of present | needs should be established. he said. He complimented the Alaska ] Communication System for having come "a long way" since the war. and said that it too should be en. larged beyond present needs. Kenneth J. Kadow, chief of the Alaska Field Committee and CO., chairman with General Twining of the conference, told Hendr'ckson and Ellis that their ideas had all ready been discussed by the meet ing, hut the question of "how to do