Evening star., 1938-04-07
SENATE INCREASES
AIRCRAFT DEFENSE
308 More 3.Inch Guns Are
Approved in Army Bill.
S491, 100000 Voted.
Ev ths Associated Press.

6S lf' ANSoC!SteQ PIeSS.
The Senate, impressed by the de-
aructive power of aerial bombing in
Spain and China, proposed today to
multiply the Army's supply of anti
aircraft weapons.
The s49l 100000 War Department
appropriation bill which the Senate
approved late yesterday includes funds
for 3os quick-fi firing, 3-inch anti-air-
craft guns.
Gen. Malin Craig, Chief of Staff.
said the Army believed the new Weap-
ons were needed for reasonably ade-
quate protection for areas IN the
United States which may be subject
to aerial attacks"
In response to President RooseveN's
national defense message. the House
approved an outlay of S12,700 900 to
increase the Army's supply of the
anti-aircraft weapons to 14l. The
Senate voted sl1,768,77O additional
for 167 others and accessories. The
bill was sent to a conference COM
mittee to adjust the differences.
Cost $4,000 Each.
The guns cost about $4,000 each,
exclusive of the expensive range find
ers and other equipment.
Boosting the War Department bill
by some $4,000 900 to new peace time
proportions, the Senate added Sl6,-
790,747 for defenses of both the Pa
cific and Atlantic Coasts of the United
States and for Hawaii and the Panama
Canal. The House had voted s6,748,-
5o3 for the purpose. to be expended
largely on the Pacific Coast
A Senate Military Affairs Subcom-
mittee voted favorably today to report
to the main committee a bill by Sem
ator Lee. Democrat. of Oklahoma
which would provide for drafting OF
money as we'll as men in time of war
Senator Lee said he would attempt to
obtain an early Senate vote on the bill
From the Nays top-ranking officer,
Admiral William D. Leahy, came sup
porting testimony for the harbor de-
fenses almost as the Senate acted.
Testifying on the pending bill to in
crease the fleet by 20 per cent, Admiral
Leahy advised the Senate Naval Com
mittee:
Shore Defenses.
ut is very desirabl that shore de-
fenses should be provided to prevent
raids against the cities. A single ship.
or two ships. can escape from the scout
ing line and drive in close to San
Francisco. say. and lombard the city,
if they wanted to do that 1t has
been done before, and it might be done
again"
Senator Bone. Democrat, of WASH
ington, charged that the proposed
81 1000, 100000 expansion in the Navy
means giving the taxpayers money
away to the ship building companies. {"
He said he would draft Minority
Committee report against the bill.
Mr.. Bone asserted that the cost of
preparing facilities for the construc-
ton in private ship yards of at least
half the 46 combat ships contem-
plated in the measure would be paid
indirectly by the Government through
increased bid prices.
If we are going to pay for these
facilities with the taxpayers money,
why don't we enlarge the Navy yards
and build the ships there?" he asked.
Flexible Policy Urged.
The Senate committee agreed that
United States naval policy must re-
main flexible. Told that naval parity
with Great Britain and superiority
over Japan would make war unlikely"
for the United States, the committee
agreed with Admiral William D.
Leahy that any definite statement Of
policy in the s1,121 ,000, 900 naval ex-
pansion bill would be "inadvisabie
Discussing reports that the Navy
Department was considering creation
of an Atlantic fleet, Admiral Leahy
said authorizations provided in the
pending bill would not warrant the
division of the Navy into two fleets"
Chairman Walsh, Democrat. of
Massachusetts, suggested the construc-
ton of American dirigbles to provide
a merchant marine of the air."
The Government should build a
training ship of at least 100000
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