BASES IN PACFIC

Opunake Times, 24 February 1939, Page 4

BASES IN PACFIC

SEA AND As’R FORCES AM UP 1C AN UP OPUS AL

The immediate construction of 15 naval defence bases, 11 of which would be. in the Pacific or on the Pacific littoral, is recommended to Congress by the Naval Hoard, which it instructed last year “to survey the coastlines of the United States and its possessions, and report on sites which, in the board's opinion, are best suited for the establishment of air, submarine, destroyer and mine basis necessary to adequate defence.” The report is the most complete ever written so far as air and submarine defences are concerned. The board, of which Pear-Ad-miral Hepburn, former Com-mander-in-C'hief of the Fleet, is chairman, says that at present 41 bases, includin'? 25 for naval air services, are necessary to the proper protection of the Continental United States, the Panama Canal zone and island possessions.

The air base recommended, for immediate construction for Pacific defences are to be located at the following points: Panama Canal; Seattle. Washington: Sitka, Alaska; Kodiak, Alaska : Pearl Harbour, Hawaii: Oahu Island, Hawaii; Midway Island; Wake Island: Guam Island: •Tohnstone Island: Palmyra Island. The two last-named are south of Hawaii. Many Aircraft Needed for Emergency The board recommended, for subsequent construction, 10 ad-

ditional naval air bases, of which five are for Pacific defence, locafcd at the following 1 points: Samoa: Canton Island: Aleutian Islands: Alameda, California; San Diego, California. The existing base at San Diego, headquarters of the Fleet, is to be expanded considerably. Dealing .with the mid-Pacific area, the report says: “The importance of a secure defence of the Hawaiian Islands need not be emphasised in this report. So long as the United States retains command of the sea between Hawaii and the mainland, the island of Oahu may be considered practically impregnable against hostile occupation. “It is. only, however, as a secure base for naval iopecations that the islands possess a great strategic' value, either in the defence of the mainland or of possessions to the westward. In time of emergency it will be necessary to throw into the theatre of operations large numbers of aeroplanes, in excess of the normal complement.

Defence of the Philippines “There is only one site in the Hawaiian Islands which possesses the requisite natural features for a major naval air base, namely Ford Island, within the limits of the Pearl Harbour naval reservation. There are, however. two other locations in the ifl <■ B

over the military problem involved, whose solution requires measures beyond any that could be recommended by this board within the limits of its precept. Ponding a settlement of those questions of broad political and military significance which must bo considered in connection with Philippine. independence the board recommends the maintenance of existing facilities only. Value of Guam Emphasised Within this board’s purview, in connection with the defence of Guam, lie certain possibilities which greatly simplify the military problem of the defence of the Philippines.

“Guam is well adapted to the muintenace of an air force equal to or superior to that of any hostile force which could be assembled within a 1200-mile radius. Thq facilities for a submarine base are excellent. So long as Guam existed as a strong air and submarine base, hostile operations against the Philippines would be a precarious undertaking.

“To an even greater extent, Guam would greatly impede, if not actually deny extensive hostile naval operations to the south. Guam should he developed into a strong'fleet base.”