the scandal-rocked US Naval Air Station in Bermuda.

It is claimed the interview with Rear Admiral John Coleman, who appeared reluctant to support the Base, was distorted by editing.

The allegation was made by his wife, Mrs. Cissy Coleman, from Brunswick in the United States.

She said it was clear PrimeTime Live wanted to portray the St. David's Base in a bad light.

Mr. Donaldson's controversial report earlier this month likened the Base to a "Club Med'' resort, where military VIPs took vacations at taxpayer's expense.

It included startling allegations of junkets, unauthorised freebies, and illegal use of naval vehicles.

Two whistle-blowers were interviewed -- Senior Chief Petty Officer George Randall Taylor and Second Class Petty Officer Thomas Williams Coggins.

Mr. Donaldson also spoke to several military top brass, including Rear Admiral Coleman, division commander.

Admiral Coleman was reported as saying: "We have no planes assigned to this Base, that's correct, and we have no ships assigned to this Base. No.'' And later he said: "The navy would like to close a lot of Bases, but that's a political decision, not a military one.'' The programme went on to report the Base was in the middle of a new $34 million NATO scheme -- authorised in 1989 -- to build an emergency runway and a huge hangar.

Viewers heard Admiral Coleman admit the scheme was not needed "at this stage.'' A Royal Gazette editorial, headlined "Donaldson the spoiler'', later claimed the ABC newsman may have been part of a high-level conspiracy, involving US Navy Chiefs or the congressional Armed Services Committee, to whip up bad publicity to close the Base.

The paper said PrimeTime's report smacked of a set-up, and it may have been thought timely to cause a "stink'' to undermine the Base's role.

"As the TV piece progressed on our screens it became clear that at least one Admiral was doing a remarkably poor job of putting the US Navy's case for continuing the Base or even of explaining how and why the Base is here. He had not one good word to say for this Base under his command,'' the editorial stated.

But in a letter to The Royal Gazette , Mrs. Coleman asks: "I wonder, did it ever occur to you that Mr. Donaldson edited any interviews that he did with said Admiral? "It should have been obvious to you that Mr. Donaldson was in `command' and there would be no positive remarks aired.

"This has certainly been an interesting lesson in dealing with the media!'' Mr. Donaldson, however, has refuted any suggestion his report was deliberately one-sided.

He said no one had offered a defence of the Base in his interviews.

"We were very straight forward in our request, and asked for a tour of the Base. We informed the Navy what we wanted to do.

"The Navy did say the Base would act as an emergency landing place if a shuttle mission went wrong, but it turned out the only day to day mission of the Base was to run Bermuda Airport.'' Since his report two US Government inquiries have been launched into the Base.