The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-04-27

crltlcal target areas ana the Ierrl- tory should be exempted from pro- viding its own civil defense.
 The testimony was given in sup port of legislation that would exempt Alaska from contributing to civi defense in the same degree that ths states must.
 Gov. Ernest Gruening of Alaska Delegate Bartlett of the Territory and civil defense officials all joined in urging prompt action by tht committee.
 We can't afford to wait" Bart lett said. "The need may arise al any time"
 Disclosures Disclosures at the hearing in cluded:
 Plans call for spending $1,000,- 100000 on military construction in the Territory during the coming year.
 Contemplated building of large underground shelters designed tc accommodate 22,000 persons in ar emergency and do double duty al hospitals.
 Willard Caldwell, civil defense ad- ministrator, joined in urging prompt action on the pending bill He said it would permit financial con- tributions to the Territory flor or ganizational equipment and shelters and protective facilities without re- quiring any contribution from the Territory or apportionment of funds on the basis of population" Situation Serious
 Caldwell, in a letter to the com mittee, said the Alaskan Civil De- fense situation presents serious difficulties"
 Samuel H. Sabin, CDA's general counsel, made the estimate that 67 per cent of Alaskans live in critical target areas. He added:
 ''Relatively light incendiary at tacks could render the population of most communities homeless. Should such an attack occur dur ing the below-zero weather of the winter months, the entire popula- tion of a community would suffer seriously from exposure"
 He agreed with Gruening that Alaska. because of it's location as 'an outpost of the United States, might possibly be the first to suf- fer under an enemy attack.
 Strategic Importance
 "Its strategic importance" Sabin said, requires that measures be taken to reduce the hazards of enemy attack.
 For these reasons. this tCDA administration is sympathetic to proposals to provide more adequate ly for the Civil Defense protection Iof the civilian population of the Territory
 He said that Alaska's legislature had appropriated $400,000 for 'Civi Defense. This Sabin said, amounted to about $5.50 for each of the Ter ritory's 127,0O0 residents and is "sub- stantially larger" on per capita basis than appropriations by any other state or Territory. Additional Funds However" Sabin added, "addi- tional funds must be made available if an adequate system of shelters is to be provided for the people of Alaska"
 He told of plans to build the large underground shelters which he saic would have permanent peacetimt value for storage use or as base ments for future public buildings. He estimated thhat the cost of the shelters would approximate S5,000,- OOO
 Defense Needed Hugh Gallagher, also of the GOA said that adequate civil defense is needed in Alaska to protect the civilian workers engaged in build ing extensice Alaskan military es- establishments contemplated during
 4r the coming year. Gallagher said the cost of such construction, is esti- mated at s1 ,OO0.000,000.
 Gallagher said he did not believe a prospective enemy would drop atomic bombs on Alaska. Such a powerful destructive force would not be needed, he said, because of the light construction of most Alaskan buildings.
 He said Nome could be reached by Russian bombers in 12 minutes and that Fairbanks and Anchor age are only "a few hours from the home bases of Soviet planes.
 Gov. Gruening told the committed that Alaska does not have the fi- nancial ability to pay for the ciyi defense it needs.