and other serving facilities. Fuel and oil are transferred to the seaplane on the water. Meager reports mention experiments with a canvas ramp astern on which the seaplane may be hauled; also trials of canvas shelters for protection during refueling operations. The military significance of this commercial "mother ship' for seaplanes appears to have been ignored by our strategists. As seaplanes become larger, their ability to alight safely on the open ocean increases. Acknowledging only the existing sizes of seaplanes, it is rather startling to contemplate that small inexpensive merchant ships are capable of serving as ocean supply bases for transoceanic bombing planes. Mr. Igar Sikorsky, the eminent builder of large seaplanes, informed the Federal Aviation Commission (Oct. 10, 1934) that seaplanes are now in course of design that can transport 10 tons for a nonstop flight of 2,000 miles. A single seaplane of that type-which is a prospect for the immediate future-then could drop 10 tons of bombs on any American coastal city simply by prearranging a rendezvous with a small servicing vessel at sea a thousand miles from the coast line. These facts strongly emphasize that our Nation is no longer protected from air attacks because of the wide extent of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and we must govern ourselves accordingly if we are to maintain a "respectable defensive posture." Here we desire to emphasize the thought that plans of this committee contemplate only safe and sane defense for the United States of America. SCOPE OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION The enactment of this legislation is essential to achieve a full realization of the words of counsel uttered by our first President, George Washington, when he said, "We should maintain a respectable defensive posture." It is now well recognized that air bases have the same relation to air power that naval bases have to naval power. In other words, an air force, in order to be efficient, must not only be ready to operate but it must have available bases from which it can operate. The realization of such bases is provided in this bill. For the United States of America the development of air power because of its limited range is purely a weapon of defense but such development as proposed herein is necessary for adequate defense. In the matter of national defense we frequently fail to recognize the relative protection afforded by an adequate Navy. We must remember that the hostile fleet is the main objective of the home fleet and that the location of the home fleet therefore depends largely on the action of the enemy. Since our fleet must be free to meet the enemy fleet we cannot predict what portion of our coast will be protected by our Navy or how long such protection may last. As a result of this important factor we must fully realize the necessity of an adequate air force in the maintenance of an effective national defense. This bill provides for air stations that will permit us to make the best and most effective use of our air force for the protection of continental United States and our overseas possessions. It not only provides for the construction of necessary new air bases but will permit the enlargement and extension of bases already in existence. The committee unanimously urges the enactment of this law so that work thereon may begin at the earliest possible date. NO LOGROLLING IN SELECTION OF AIR BASES The committee has deliberately drawn the bill in general terms in order to prevent political preference to any section, State, or locality. The proper location of such air bases is a problem for the War Department after a full consideration of all strategical and geographical questions. The history of our committee and the location of posts, magazines, and arsenals has too often illustrated the power of political influence on congressional action in fixing the location thereof. We propose by this great advance step in air defense to avoid the mistakes of the past in this respect. APPENDIX As an appendix hereto we add letters from the War Department and desire to conclude this report with the statement that the cost of new bases, together with necessary alterations and additions to complete existing stations (exclusive of prices of new sites), will be approximately $110,000,000. MARCH 22, 1935. Hon. JOHN J. MCSWAIN, Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. MCSWAIN: In reply to letter from the clerk, Committee on Military Affairs, dated March 12, 1935, requesting the views of the War Department on H. R. 6621, I desire to advise you that the bill has the full approval of the War Department. Sincerely yours, Hon. JOHN J. MCSWAIN, HARRY H. WOODRING, Acting Secretary of War. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., April 10, 1935. Chairman Committee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. MCSWAIN: In reply to letter from the clerk, Committee on Military Affairs, dated March 27, 1935, requesting the views of the War Department on H. R. 7022, I desire to advise you that the attitude of the War Department in the matter was covered in a report on H. R. 6621, which is virtually identical with H. R. 7022. Sincerely yours, DOUGLAS MACARTHUR, Acting Secretary of War. AUTHORIZING A PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF FOX RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES IN CLARK COUNTY, MO., WITH A VIEW TO THE CONTROL OF FLOODS APRIL 25, 1935.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. WILSON of Louisiana, from the Committee on Flood Control, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6607] The Committee on Flood Control, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6607) authorizing a preliminary examination of Fox River and its tributaries in Clark County, Mo., with a view to the controlling of floods, having considered same, report it favorably to the House of Representatives with the recommendation that it do pass. Fox River, including its tributaries of Little Fox, Sugar, and Honey Creeks, are tributary of the Mississippi River and traverse an extremely fertile area, which is now practically worthless for cultivation on account of seasonal floods. This land is owned by numerous farmers in that locality and they suffer considerable loss due to their inability to utilize portions of it on account of frequent overflows. By digging a channel for a distance of approximately 2 miles the floods to a large extent would be prevented and the land restored to a state of productive cultivation. The bill has the approval of the War Department, as evidenced by the following communication: [1st endorsement] WAR DEPARTMENT, March 29, 1935. Respectfully returned to the Chairman of the Committee on Flood Control, House of Representatives. This Department is not aware of any objection to the enactment of House Bill No. 6607,"Authorizing a preliminary examination of Fox River and its tributaries in Clark County, Mo., with a view to the control of floods." 74TH CONGRESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session { REPORT No. 789 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF WILLAMETTE RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES APRIL 25, 1935.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. WILSON of Louisiana, from the Committee on Flood Control, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 865] The Committee on Flood Control, to whom was referred the bill (S. 865), authorizing a preliminary examination of the Willamette River and its tributaries in the State of Oregon, with a view to controlling floods, having been favorably considered by the Committee on Commerce of the Senate and by this committee, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass. The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the annexed letter, and the amendment referred to therein has been incorporated in the bill as reported. Hon. ROYAL S. COPELAND, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, February 6, 1935. Chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR COPELAND: Reference is made to your letter of January 18, 1935, requesting a report on a bill (S. 865) authorizing a survey of the Willamette River and its tributaries, in the State of Oregon, with a view to controlling floods. I am advised by the Chief of Engineers that the survey directed by the bill would cost a considerable sum. The data before the Department is not sufficient to indicate that the cost of the survey is warranted by the consequent benefits. It has been the usual procedure of Congress under the provisions of section 3 of the act entitled "An act to provide for the control of the floods of the Mississippi River and of the Sacramento River, Calif., and for other purposes", approved March 1, 1917, to limit the initial authorization to a preliminary examination. The report on the preliminary examination showing the costs of the proposed survey, the general feasibility of the work proposed, and the Federal and local benefits to be anticipated from the execution of this work, is then transmitted to the House of Representatives for its further consideration. It is the view of this Department, therefore, that the bill should be amended to provide for a preliminary examination in lieu of a survey. An amendment to the bill to carry out this purpose is indicated in red ink. As so amended, I perceive no objection to its passage. Sincerely yours, GEO. H. DERN, Secretary of War. O PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION SEBEWAING RIVER, HURON COUNTY, MICH., FLOOD CONTROL APRIL 25, 1935.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. WILSON of Louisiana, from the Committee on Flood Control, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 6829] The Committee on Flood Control, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 6829) authorizing a preliminary examination of Sebewaing River, in Huron County, Mich., with a view to the controlling of floods, having considered same, report thereon with the recommendation that it do pass. The Sebewaing River comprises a drainage district affecting lands in Sebewaing and Brookfield Townships, Huron County, and lands in Almer, Columbia, Ellington, and Elmwood Townships in Tuscola County, Mich. Serious flood conditions appear frequently, particularly in the spring, which cause much damage to private and industrial property of the people who live near the river and cause disastrous and undue hardships to the entire village of Sebewaing and its locality. The measure has the approval of the War Department, and the following favorable report has been received from the Department on this bill, H. R. 6829: WAR DEPARTMENT, Respectfully returned to the Chairman of the Committee on Flood Control, House of Representatives. This Department is not aware of any objection to the enactment of House bill no. 6829, "authorizing a preliminary examination of Sebewaing River in Huron County, Mich., with a view to the controlling of floods." GEO. H. DERN, Secretary of War. |