Evening star., 1938-09-25
ARMY-NAWFUND
INCREASE SOUGHT
High Commands Would Step
Up Preparedness Pace to
Cope With Crisis.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The Army and Navy high commands,
concerned over Europe's war crisis, in
tend to ask Congress for funds and
legislation to quicken the pace Of
American military preparedness.
The have prepared estimates calling
in the aggregate for several hundred
million dollars more than the $780,
100000 being spent this fiscal year for
fighting men and munitions.
The Nays program OF essential"
legislation includes extensive construc-
ton Of shore bases, modernization Of
five battleships and six submarines
and proposal to permit requisition-
ing of merchant ships and civilian
planes prior to an actual war.
The Navy already has estimated it
will require s2O0,000,OO0 more next
year than this to start score more
new warships and to carry forward
the ,oo0,OOo,o0o expansion of the
feet begun this year.
Stronger Guard Sought.
The Army wants to hasten rearm-
ament with new guns. planes and
motor vehicles. Its preliminary esti-
mates call for 5000 additional Regular
Army troops, stronger National
Guard and funds to train more reserve
officers.
Also included is provision to estab-
lish the second of six new air bases
authorized by Congress in 1s35-pos-
sibly in Alaska.
The Nays legislative proposals are
separate from its annual appropriation
requests. Eight were classified as "es-
sential" by Admiral William D. Leahy
in list prepared for President Roose-
velt's approval. They are:
/. Shore construction, including a
drydock at Pearl Harbor. Hawaii, and
revival of a plan to construct the
worlds largest floating drydock for
that Pacific base.
2. Modernization Of five battleships
the Colorado. West Virginia, Mary
land, Tennessee and California-and
six submarines. Plans already have
been drafted to rebuild the aircraft
carriers Lexington and Saratoga.
3. Authorize requisitioning of mer-
chant ships and civil aircraft in an
emergency, prior to an actual war.
Civilian Training Sought.
f. Training civilians for naval serv-
ice, as the Army does with civilian
military training camps.
S. Permission to award contracts to
other than the lowest bidder.
6. Speeding acquisition of minerals
essential to war.
7. Legislation establishing naval
ownership of oil in certain submerged
lands.
8. Authorization to appoint 100 act
ing assistant surgeons
Admiral Leahy listed numerous
other projects as desirable, including
a supply depot at Oakland. Calf: a
naval reserve munitions fund and pro-
vision for wartime control of economic
resources.
Would Reach New High.
Any increase in Army and Navy
funds next year would swell the out
lays for military purposes to a new
high for the period since immediate
post-World War years.
The War Department yesterday
awarded contracts totaling $2,6l8.555
for anti-aircraft gun parts and NUM-
tions.
Assistant Secretary johnson COM
mented that the contracts had been
placed with noteworthy speed.
Contracts totaling $7,282,455 were
awarded earlier this month. Details
Of about $1,000 900 others for NUM-
tions will be announced shortly. Mr..
johnson said. Yesterdays awards
went to 81 scattered firms,