DEFENDING ALASKA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21866, 20 January 1941, Page 3

DEFENDING ALASKA

COLOSSAL APPROPRIATIONS NEW YORK, December 2. The United States is spending immediately on the defence of Alaska fourteen times as much as was paid to Russia for that territory. On the defence of the north-west Pacific littoral extending from the State of Washington to the Aleutian Islands, I nearly 600 million dollars have been appropriated. I This will provide for aircraft construction (182 millions), destroyers (180 millions), submarines (60 millions), seaplane tenders (45 millions), maritime ships (29 millions), the balance being made up of army, navy and air stations and bases. The most important of the navy and al-r stations are to be established at Kodiak Island and Dutch Harbour, which are to be made impregnable. The shortest distance between Siberia and Alaska, in Behring Strait, is 50 miles. Three imposing Soviet naval and air bases are established on the Arctic shore. Southward, toward Vladivostok are a dozen more air stations. A Soviet submarine base ’s less than 300 miles from the tip of the American Aleutian territory. The nearest Japanese naval base is a little farther south, off the tip of Kamchatka, not more than 700 miles from American territory. Whether these Russian and Japanese preparations are aimed at each other does not affect the determination of Uncle Sam to set his house in order, and to close up all gaps in defence, no matter what the cost. On all these defence jobs in the remote north-west, work is now being carried on 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The United States regards Alaska as the most vulnerable of its possessions, therefore, the most vital to defend.