U.S. CREATES BASES IN ALASKA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 68, 13 December 1937, Page 7

U.S. CREATES BASES IN ALASKA

FtHi Aian.

Plan Challenges Japan's Strategic Supremacy LARGE-SCALE EXERCISES

(By Vele*r*ph-

— (^opy rulit. 1

^iteceivea lo, xu.ao a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 12. Mr Hector Bywater, the Daily Telegraph5s naval correspondent, reveais that without any previous announcement the United States has establiehed a naval, and air base at Sitka Harbour, Alaska, with hangars and workshops. Already, up to 12 twin-engined bombers have arrived; others will be following shortly. Duteh Harbour is already being used as a subsidiary naval and air base, and plans are being, made to cstablisb larger bases in th'e Aleutians, the "stepping-stone" islands extending in an arc across the Southevn end of tho Bering Sea between Alas..a and Kussia. The intention is to construct ono or more "strategic bridges55 across the Pacific, enabling the United States to concentrate powerful naval and air forces in the Far East should it become expedient to do so. The plan promises to challenge the strategic supremacy Japan has hitherto exercised in the Western Pacific. NEW YORK : The largest naval manoeuvres in the history of the United States will be held over millions of square miles of the Eastera Pacific in March and April, says the Wasliington correspondent of the New York Times, Approximately 175 vessels, 500 planes and between 50,000 and 60,000 men will participate. It is intended to demonstrate the increasing strategic importance o| tbq Aleutian-Hawaiian-Pacific triangle.