U.S. Reaction To War Clouds; Impressive Building Programme

Northern Advocate, 30 August 1938, Page 7

U.S. Reaction To War Clouds; Impressive Building Programme

(Received 10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, August 29

With eyes on the gloomy war clouds, the United States Navy Department has drafted an impressive tentative construction programme for 1939. It includes one or two battleships in addition to the six already appropriated, four cruisers, six destroyers, six to eight submarines and the enlistment of 5000 more men. A most significant development is a recommendation that the battleships should be of 45,000 tons.

The plans are near completion, and ;.it is anticipated that President Roosevelt will give his consent if he is satisfied Japan is exceeding the treaty limits. . The construction of. an 18,000-ton aircraft carrier is under consideration, but its postponement until 1940 is probable. If Mr Roosevelt approves, the programme Will be submitted to Congress/in January. The Navy Department has also worked out a 10-year Construction plan to implement the decision of the last Congress to increase under-age ships by 20 per cent. Defences In Alaska. ' The United Slates Army is' seeking £2,500,000 to establish an’air base in Alaska, supplementing the defensive measures proposed by the Navy to protect the • shortest route to the Orient. Mr L. Johnson, Assistant-Secretary for Air, has returned from an aerial survey in Alaska, in the course of which he inspected, air base sites, and ; also alternative routes for the proposed 2200 miles all-weather 'road through British Columbia from Seattle to Fairbanks, Alaska.. Fairbanks is suitable for training, but fog over the, encircling mountains will tend to isolate, the area from the sea. Alternative bases suggested are Juneau or Gustaffson’s Point. The growing realisation of Alaska’s strategic, importance is indicated by the recent establishment of a seaplane base at Sitka, a request to Congress for a £1,250,000 base at Kodiak Island, 1 and. the despatch of 60 seaplanes to Alaska for summer training. Will Follow Others.

Declaring that besides developing adequate defence forces it is the Government’s obligation to use vigorously its good offices in promoting world peace, Mr Roosevelt, in a letter to the editor of the Army and Navy Journal, published in its 71st anniversary number, says:— “As others decrease their armaments, we will gladly join them by reducing, those which present world conditions force us to provide for our own protection. Nothing we have done contemplates aggression, and nothing goes beyond what is necessary to establish proper safeguards.”