Evening star., 1932-10-30
ROOSEVELT VIEWS
ON DEFENSE ASKED
Moffett Hopes Uncle Sam
"WiII Wake Up Before It
Is Too Late"

The Navy's air chief believes Gov.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Democratic pres
idential nominee, should clearly state
his position on national defense.
In an address, prepared for delivery
last night at the third annual Navy re-
union Of Naval Post of the American
Legion, Chicago. Ill, Rear Admiral VIII
liam A. Moffett, chief Of the Navy's
Bureau OF Aeronautics, said President
statement contains Cheering words to
every man who loves his country"
"Our President has recently most un-
equivocally declared how he stands"
said Admiral Mofiett, and it would be
Of great interest, especially to those who
have fought for their country and who
will some day have to fight again, to
know how Mr.. Roosevelt stands"
Declares U. s. "Sound Asleep"
Admiral Mofiett characterized Uncle
tional defense Is concerned. He said:
To-day Uncle Same Is q Rip Van
Winkle-sound asleep as far as defense
goes. Let us hope and pray that he will
awake some day before 1t Is too late. and
not be rudely awakened by club at
his head. The club exists, and he Is
omparatively defenseless, and he sleeps
in peace only by the grace Of God and
not because he has provided the defense
commensurate with his wealth and
place in the world"
The Navy realized the need for econ
omy, the admiral stated. citing the case
Of his own bureau. which. he declared,
alone returned to the Treasury over
81, ,O00, 900 Of money that had been actu-
ally appropriated during the past three
years." but I'VE do not believe we can
reduce further with safety"
Money expended in upbuilding the
Navy, he said, would have . far-reach-
ing effect on unemployment, in dis
tributing money throughout every State
in the Union, because IS per cent OF the
cost Of a man-of-war, including its air
craft, goes to labor. and practically
every industry scattered throughout the
country contributes to the building of
ship"
Vote Slaekers Cited.
Admiral Moffet said that 1--WE who
served deplore the decadence Of our
national defenses, and some blame the
depression for 1t. forgtting that condi-
tions are largely due to ourselves, to
the failure of Americans to take an ac-
tive interest in national defense until
danger threatens, and even in politics
except at intervals. and then only
comparatively small number Of citizens
take the trouble to vote"
Despite reduced appropriations. the
admiral said, I'VE have been able to
make progress in aviation during the
past year" including in this list:
Increase from Is to 20 per cent In
reliability of aircraft engines, develop
ment of a much lighter and more
powerful airship engine, improvement
of q water recovery system that Will
save 5000 pounds in each airship, great
improvement in fighting ability, In
cluding speed, OF all service types OF
planes; completion Of the largest fly
ing boat built in this country, weigh
ing over 20 tons and having q radius
Of 5000 miles; designs are ready for an
experimental service flying boat Of over
100000 pounds and range Of 1000
miles, but lack Of money prevents be-
ginning of construction; development
Of flying boats has reached point
where transatlantic flying boats carry
ing q pay load Of passengers and mail
are in sight; for the first time serv-
ice land plane was catapulted from
shipboard type catapult few days ago.
Says U. S. Leads In Dirigibles.
Turning to consideration of air
ships, the Navy's air chief revealed
that "the Navy has no intention nor
desire to build any more airships for
years to come" Although America has
fallen behind In its Navy, merchant
marine and air forces, she does lead
unquestionably in lighter-than-air, in
rigid airships, known generally as
dirigibles," he said.
"A device has just been developed, he
said. whereby five airplanes can be
.,,enapdnd e;no,,lfa "A oo,,si, hepeatt the
Akron, thus permitting them to be held
ready for use when needed, refueled
and the personnel changed From "our
experience with the Akron's planes we
know that larger passenger and mail
carrying airplanes can be carried on
commercial airships, enabling them to
land and receive passengers and mail
at way ports, without the airship's
landing" Admiral Moffett asserted.