The Washington times., 1937-12-22
U, S, PREPARING
H { R DEFENSES
FOR EMERGENCY
Will Increase Army,
Navy, Air Force
BY ROBERT G. NIXON
(copyriEht, 1887. by International
News ServiceD

CCopyright, 1887. by International
News service)
Americas armed forces are being
readied, in view of the Far Eastern
crisis, to cope with any eventu-
ality into which this nation, seek
ing peace. may be forced.
The feeling of tension and irri-
+ation over Japan's ruthless war.
fare on American neutral shipping
in the Yangtze River has increased
in the last week and half to such
an extent in washington, and over
the nation generally, that further
major steps are being considered
to bring Americas national de-
fenses to the highest point Of pre-
paredneSS since the World War.
FORCES STRENGTHENED
These plans, International News
Service learned, call for large in
creases in naval strength, in the
combined air forces Of the Navy
and Army, and in the Army it.
self. In addition, the Navy De
partment'S plea Of the last two
years for auxiliary vessels, par
ticularly fuel carriers, with which
to keep the fleet supplied when
operating at long distances from
its shore bases, is expected to
be provided.
The stress is being laid on the
Navy and Air forces-the first
line of defense-with the Army
land forces taking secondary,
though far from neglected, place.
ROOSEVELT CONFIDENT
The program of revitalizing the
defense forces of the last three
years is expected to be speeded
materially in view of the Far East
ern crisis and the unsettled world
situation generally.
President Roosevelt and Secre-
tary of State Cordell Hull remain
confident peace can be maintained
without sacrifice of national
honor.
But the determination is firm
that Japan must provide satisfac-
ton In melting the demands in full
of the note of protest over the
bombing and sinking Of the U.
S. S. Panay and three American
oil tankers by Japanese war planes.
It is confidently felt here that
If Japan answers the note salts
factorily, and no fruther such
grave incidents occur the crisis
will pass over safely.
Maintaining his close contact
with high Navy officials, President
Roosevelt scheduled a conference
today with Admiral William D.
Leahy, chief of Naval Operations.
This will call for the largest
peace-tirne defense expenditure (
since Americas participation in
the World War. The appropria-
tions of the last three years have
been slightly less than $1,000, ,000,.
900 annually. The appropriation
which President Roosevelt is ex-
pected to ask Congress to consider
in January will be considerably in
excess of that sum.
BIG NAVY PROGRAM
The emergency is considered
such that the Administration is
represented as being determined
the necessity for economy in Gov.
eminent expenditures and the
hope of balancing the budget will
not cause the nations defenSes to
suffer.
This means there is considerable
Congress will be asked
to authorize naval building pro-
gram considerably beyond the
limits laid down by the Washing
ton and London naval treaties,
which, anyway, became dead let
ters last December 81.
The United States Navy, under
the Vinson-T -Trammen act, was not
to reach the agreed treaty limits
until 1912. However, this, under
rapid expansion plan, is speedily
nearing attainment.
DEFENSES BOLSTERED
All brances of the national de.
tense were neglected in the idealis-
tic decade which followed the post
World War period.
This situation has been largely
remedied under the Roosevelt ad-
ministration, to such an extent
the Navy and air force are rated
among the most powerful and eff.
ticient in the world.
The Army's program of mod
ernization and mechanization is
now about so per cent complete.
It is still deficient, though, in
much Vitally needed equipment.
Secretary of the Navy Claude
Swanson has assured President
Roosevelt the Navy is in a state
of high efficiency, although there
is an admitted deficiency in auxil.
iary vessels.
NJ