BATTLE OF OAHU.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17525, 30 April 1925, Page 8

BATTLE OF OAHU.

U.S. ANXIOUS ABOUT DEFENCES. b;g air fleet needed. 8 Tylegrapll—rress Association-Coprricht Australian and K.Z Cable Association. (Received April 30. 12.35 a.m.) NEW YORK. April 29. The administration will ask Congress for increased appropriations to strengthen the defences of Hawaii, as the result of the capture of Oahu by the attacking naval and air fleets. The recommendation of the Secretary for War (Mr Weeks) in his last annual report, for better preparedness at the cross-roads of the Pacific, will be put in the form of an urgent demand in the next report. Officials outlined the most needed reform. on the basis of the capture of Oahu, as an immediate increase of the permanent air force of the islands coupled with increased artillery and infantry forces. Military experts and flying officers are agreed that the disparity in the air force largely accounts for the capture, and recommend an increase from forty aeroplanes to a hundred. It is stated that the Hawaiian defences cannot be made adequate until there arc as many aeroplanes permanently stationed at the island as could be put into the air by a hostile fleet.