OCR Text |
Show Fortifying Puerto Rico Puerto Rico is fast becoming one of the world's most heavily fortified places, in accordance with plans of the United Slates Aimy and Navy to make it impregnable im-pregnable to attack and invalu-abie invalu-abie in defense. General Edmund L. Daley, commander of the department embracing the Caribbean area, reports that fortifications are ready for emergencies and work is far ahead of schedule on the $27,000,000 air and military base, projected to protect the Panama Canal and the entire north coast of South America. Eventually 10,000 soldiers will be stationed on the island. The Navy is now constructing a $9,-000,000 $9,-000,000 air and submarine base at Isla Granda and squadrons of scouting planes are already stationed sta-tioned there. Decision to fortify Puerto Rico resulted from the uncertainties of the world situation last year, before be-fore the war began in Europe. It is necessary to assure the safety of the United States in the event that Great Britain and France lose their present struggle. It is intended to prevent unfriendly nations from establishing bases in this hemisphere. |