Recommendations to Congress Ignore Possible Annoyance to Japan; Big Expansion Envisaged Washington, Jan. 4. XTENSION of America's lines of defence in the Pacific as far west as Guam, with the strategic development of naval and Jair bases at Hawaii, Midway, Guam and other Pacific Islands, was lurged in the report of the Special Board of Naval Experts headed Rear-Admiral Arthur Hepburn which the Secretary of Navy, Mr. Claude Swanson, sent to Congress today.
The report recommended fortification of Guam as an advanced meet base to afford "practical immunity of the Philippines against hostile attack in force."
Observers noted that naval experts in the past had advised Congress that Japan "would resent such lection, The Board made no speci fic new recommendations regarding defence of the Philippines except in respect to the major [plans recommended for Guam.
"Defence of the Philippines involves matters of national policy which Hokes precedence over "the military [problem," the report said. "The miliary problem ilselt is one whose solu-ion requires measures beyond any that could be recommended by this! board within the limits of its precept. Pending a settlement of those ques-ions of broad political and military signifteance which must be considered connection with Philippine independence, the Board recommends the Fraintenanee of existing facilities "The report, which was compiled in accordance with instructions of the' }75th Congress, recommended a programme of strengthening continental defence through the establishment of Jew air bases and preparations 0 support the fighting fleet in cither the Pacific or Atlantic at any time.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.