The Daily Alaska empire., 1950-01-31
JOHNSON SAYS US. STRENGTH TOPS 5IN(E'45
Alaska Strength Up-Aretie Methods Studied : At-
 fention on Barrow Oil
By c. Yates Mcdaniel

By c. Yates Mcdaniel
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 31- R = Secretary of Defense Johnson calls in his first annual report for Am- erica to stay powerful and alert until international cooperation "is accepted by the adversaries who are now doing their utmost to des- troy it."
 He coupled this call, in the re- port issued last night, with warning that his country could be attacked from the opposite hem isphere without warning and with unpredictable fury"
 Johnson noted that Russia now has the atomic explosion secret. But he also expressed his belief that "the threat of war has dimin- ished as our strength has increas- ed"
 He assessed this strength Gs the most formidable since the height of our military power in 1945. Else where he termed the readiness of our armed forces and our military potential greater today than in any previous reacetime period in our nations history
 Johnson urged, at another point, positive action ito prevent piece meal aggressions, which unopposed, might lead to another world war"
 Scientific Slant
 Johnson gave armed services un- ification some of the credit for Americas current military strength.
 But Johnson's heaviest accent on power was slanted toward scien- tific developments. In highlight- ing some hitherto secret work he said the United States must con- sider "every important weapon and combination of weapons which might be used against it.
 Johnson reported evidence that indicates that other nations have experimented with new and un- tried forms of toxic (poison chem ical warfare"
 The report also disclosed that the mystery base at Sandia, New Mex ico, assemblies atomic bombs and teaches selected men how to use them
 Sandia is a joint Army Navy Air Force project near Albuquer- que, the report added, that also gives technical advice and assis- tance flor the preparation of at omic warfare"
 Alaska Hints
 The reports gave some hints of how matters are going in the north ern bastion, Alaska, and the whole Arctic defense perimeter.
 Army Secretary Gray reported troop strength in Alaska last June 30 was 6,500. It has since grown to about 5000. The combat force was made up of single battalion of an infantry regiment and one anti aircraft battalion. He disclosed that three more anti-aircraft battalions and another increment of infantry were earmarked for permanent sta tion ill Alaska, but still are in the states because no housing is av- ailable.
 Arctic Plans
 Navy Secretary Matthews gave brief glimpses of some new plans for the sea service in the Arctic zone, beyond which lies Russia. He spoke of an LSD Ganding Ship, Dock) being equipped for polar work, and said it is capable of launching Substantial numbers of amphibious craft in subfreezing areas Landing craft and amphib- ious tanks have been equipped for such Arctic operations, Matthews said Some strategists have contend ed that the short route to Russia, for surface attack as we'll as bomb ing planes, is through the Arctic to the Siberian coast.
 On the defensive side of the Arc- tic picture, the Navy report showed attention being given to matter long disturbing strategists- portation to the remote but highly valuable oil fields near Point Bar row, on the north coast of Alaska. The Navy report said an ice-break- CT and several cargo ships have been operating in the area, studying various aspects of the logistic support" of the Navy's petroleum reserve near Point Barrow.