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Show i . . . ?T A mi ATT AT 47 A TSmHPA T U. S. Pacific Naval Bases Inadequate I'n-.il the 1 lawaiian islmiils are ihikIc an adequate base the Anieriei! n navy vi:J he unable to operate el'i'ei lively in the western l'acilie. Lacking suel, a base, it would he necessary to supply sup-ply the lighting fleet almost entirely from the Pacific coast liases, the distance dis-tance to which would he a severe handicap on operations. Even the l'acilie coast bases are inadequate to the demands of the whole navy if stationed in the l'acilie, even in time of pence. It would be necessary to .send ships back to the Atlantic coast for major repair work. The Navy department is urging congress con-gress for appropriations to begin the construction of l'acilie coast and Hawaiian island liases which it will require several years to complete. The senate is favorable, but the house opposed op-posed to such appropriations. The Parks-McKean board, which surveyed the needs of bases in the Pacific, recommended the expenditure of $27,184,000 in the Hawaiian islands, $44,005,750 at Bremerton, Wash., $42,- 313,200 at San Francisco, $27,790,000 at San Diego, $5,000,000 at San Pedro, $5,000,000 at the Columbia river, $3,4S9,G00 at Port Angeles, AVash., and $2,871,000 at Keyport, Wash., a total of $157,73S,350. WASHINGTON". Because of tlie inadequacy of naval bases the I.'nited States, according to navy authorities, au-thorities, is totally unprepared to tight a successful war in the western Pacific. Pa-cific. v The most advanced base we now possess is at Pearl Harbor, in the Hawaiian islands. Its facilities, however, how-ever, are scarcely more than rudimentary. rudi-mentary. With the - exception of a dry dock the equipment is insufficient to -care for the needs of half the navy In time of peace, let alone the whole nary In time of war. Another dry dock and construction of a multitude of channels and berths, as well as the establishment of vast repair work and storage warehouses for supplies, are necessary, according to the Navy department. |