Unprotected Guam

Rear Admiral William S. Sims, now retired, made a number of speeches in California severely criticising our Government's naval policy. He laid stress on the need for an efficient force of aeroplanes and submarines, and in more than one of his speeches he mentioned the island of Guam.

Our failure to fortify this island is causing no little concern to our naval experts. Within the terms of the Limitation of Armament Treaty, Japan is building a large number of fast light cruisers with great cruising range. These vessels would be effective for a naval offensive in the Pacific. But by the terms of the same treaty we are forbidden to fortify any of our insular possessions in the Pacific except Hawaii. It is this state of affairs to which Admiral Sims strongly objects.