| Summary: | Air Bases For Alaska. Air Bases for Alaska PASSAGE of the Wilcox military air base bill by congress is a victory for the Hearst newspapers, which since the first of the year have urged air protection for the rich Alaska territory. The Wilcox bill provides for the establishment of adequate army airports throughout the United States AND IN ALASKA. The inclusion of Alaska in the nation's defense program was forcefully advocated in these columns. Through official blindness, the Washington naval treaty prohibited the United States from fortifying the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, but in a recent discussion of future naval plans, Secretary Swanson announced that should that treaty not be renewed, the navy will consider establishing a base on those islands, which should be the shield of Alaska, perhaps the shield of the Pacific Coast. Washington's agreement not to fortify the Aleutian Islands seems incomprehensible—as well agree not to fortify Puget Sound. But the agreement was made, and now the United States can only wait until the treaty expires. However, THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE NO AGREEMENT TO LEAVE THE ALASKA MAINLAND UNDEFENDED, and the Wilcox bill's provision for an air base there should be quickly fulfilled.
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