Salt Lake Telegram | 1936-03-03 | Page 1 | New Air Base System Urged

I NEW AIR BASE SYSTEM URGED r West est Coast Defenses Backed by Congress w WASHINGTON ASHINGTON March 3 UP UP- UP Further strengthening of ot Pacific coast defenses defenses' through creation of army air air- airbases bases in the Seattle and I Alaskan areas was advocated today by y congressional authorities A report by the war department on a a. measure by Representative J. J Mark Wilcox D. D Fla to establish a 3 chain of air bases throughout the tho country and its outposts is Is' awaited by y the house appropriations com corn Wilcox said he was pressing the matter and expected action within the ho next few weeks The war department department de do- is expected to recommend sites for beginning the air base construction program as ashe the he bill has been approved by con con- gress cress May fay Tour Northwest Chairman Paries Parks D. D Df Ark of the house appropriations subcommittee which handled the war department supply bill for the 1937 fiscal year said mid his group might go to the northwest after atter the present present present pres pres- ent session His subcommittee toured the Pacific Pa Pa- cHic coast and Hawaii before the supply bill was approved by the house It is pending In the senate Parks Parks' committee found d defenses weak in Hawaii the Pacific coast a arid and d in tho the Panama Canal Zone Need Coast Bases There is no doubt wh whatever that vo wo need those bases in the northwest north north- west vest Parks said It will wUl strengthen strength strength- en vastly our Pacific coast defense t triangle which goes from Alaska to Hawaii to Panama I I doubt that wo we will be In a position to get action this session on an n for them thein but we 0 want to be ha prepared to to get them early next year ear if wo wo we dont don't Parks sal said J. J Parks said he favored expanding the ho present army air force above its ts 1800 limit linit bl but t that the tho factories cannot turn turnout out lout planes fast enough