The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-28
Roosevelt Urges Millions To
 Be Spent For National Defense

Washington, Jan. 28 - (UP0- The text of President Roosevelt's special message to congress on national defense expansion plans follows:
 To the Congress of the United States:
 The congress knows that for many years this government has sought in many capitals with the leaders of many governments to find a way to limit and reduce armamentS and to establish at least the probability of world peace.
 The congress is aware also that while these efforts, supported by the hopes of the American people. continue and will continue they have nevertheless failed up to the present time.
 Not To Give Up
 We, as a peaceful nation, can- not and will not abandon active search for an agreement among the nations to limit armaments and end aggression. But it is clear that until such agreement is reached-and I have not given up hope of tive are compelled to think of our own national safety. It is with the deepest regret that I report to you that armaments increase today at an unprecedent- ed and alarming rate. It is an onlinous fact that at least one fourth of the worlds population is involved in mercileSS devaStat- ing conflict in spite of the fact that most people in most coun- tries, including those where con- flict rages, wish to live at peace. Armies are fighting ill the Far East and in Europe; thousands of civilians are being driven from their homes and bombed from the air. Tension throughout the world is high.
 Defense Inadequate
 As commander -in-chief of the army and navy of the United States it IS my constitutional duty to report to the congress that our national defense is, in the light of the increasing armaments of other nations, inadequate for purposes of national security and requires increase for that reason.
 In spite of the well-known fact that the American standard of living makes our ships, our guns and our planes cost more for con- struction than in any other nation and that the maintenance of them and of our army and navy per- sonnel is more expensive than in any other nation, it is also true that the proportion of the cost of our military and naval forces to the total income of our citizens or to the total cost of our govern ment is far lower than in the case of any other great nation.
 Makes Recommendation
 Specifically and solely because of the piling up of additional land and sea armaments in other countries, in such manner as to involve a threat to world peace and security, I make the following recommendations to the congress:
 CD That there be authorized for the Army of the United States additions to anti-aircraft material in the sum of $8,800,000 and that or this sum S6,800,000 be appropr1- ated for the fiscal year 1889.
 (2) That there be authorized and appropriated for the better establishment of an enlisted re- serve for the Army the sum of $450,000.
 $6,OOO,0OO For Materials
 (3) That there be authorized the expenditure of $6,080,000 for the manufacture of gauges, dies and other aids to manufacture of army material, the sum of $5.- 100000 thereof to be expended during the fiscal year of 1889.
 (4) That $2,00O,000 be author ized and appropriated toward the making up of deficiencies in am munition for the army.
 (5) That the existing author ized building program for in creases and replacements in the Navy be increased by 20 per cent.
 2 Battleships, 2 Cruisers
 (6) That this congress author ize and appropriate for the laying down of two additional battleships and two additional cruisers dur ing the calendar year 1888. This will call for the expenditure of a