AMERICA HOLDS HER PACIFIC RAMPARTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5288, 28 December 1946, Page 3

AMERICA HOLDS HER PACIFIC RAMPARTS

NO LARGB SCALE FORTIFICATION S WASHINGTON. Scattered like a handful of dried beans across the Pacific Ocean, hundreds of coral and rock atolls dot the the vast expanse of ocean 'between San Francisco and Shanghai — trifling in land area, but vital ramparts in the defence of America.. Once the Japanese ruled these islands. To-day the United States nqvy wants to hold them in rein, to watch for any future trouble. By international law and because United States policy opposes the expansion of territory hy victors of war, title to these ^'stepping stones to Tokio" is yet to be settled. In the immediate offing awaiting discussion by United Nations, is a United States proposal for this country to take over sole trusteeship of the mandated dsland with rights of fortification and exclusion of inspecting parties from so-called "security" zones. On a 22-day trip through rnost of the important American hases of the Western Pacific— including the Marshalls, Marianas, Palaus, and Caro lines groups — "this • g-ei.eral picture was found: — • 1. The United .States Nayy is_not building any vast chain of fortified hases through the mandates, and prcwahly will depart from Okinawa soon. ■ n 2. Base-huilding at Guam and Saipan is the only defence activity visible. 3. A hig reduction is planned for this major base ai'ea which' oiiee' was slated for £400,000,000 of Navy money to make -it isecond only to Pearl Harbour. Most of the island . natives seem happy under Navy. administration, but the Guamanians !(who have been under United States rule for 50years) object to "some day" -promises of civil rights. While present plans do' .not call f or an elaborate defence network, the Navy wants to keep control of the captured islands — ate insurance against any possible future military storms in the Pacific. A Navy ' .philosophy expressed re* peatedly 'by high officers throughout the trip eails for ibuilding strongr defences before times of tension. ratheri than during them. '

bitterly plans to fortify 'Guam were met by Japanese protests against "unfriendly gestures" and "acts of aggression." If tho United States awaits until she needs def ences against another country, theso officers say, any strengthening of -United Statps ramparts then could pr^pitate-^ar