Martins to Alaska

No one could blame Glen Luther Martin of Baltimore for beaming with pride last week. Fortnight ago the War Department announced that ten Martin bombers would take off from Washington, D. C. the Navy Department announced that twelve Martin patrol seaplanes would also take oil this month for a 7,700-mi. flight up the coast from San Diego, Calif, to Dutch Harbor. Alaska, and return. Simultaneously the War Department awarded proud Mr. Martin a $3,195,450 contract to build for the Army Air Corps 81 more of his famed "YB" bombers--most formidable weapon yet developed for aerial defense.

Prime object of the Army's Alaskan flight is to "determine whether a heavy load of bombs can be carried successfully to a distant military objective." The Navy's prime object: to teach Navy flyers "to operate in any waters, under any circumstances." With Secretary of Commerce Roper in Alaska making a survey of commercial air possibilities there, three U. S. Government departments were thus converging last week on a LT. S. territory which most strategists believe would figure prominently in any Pacific war.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.