Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-10-18

neutrality bill is out OF the way,
recommendations Tor the biggest
military preparedness program in
the nations peacetime history.
Inkling of the administrations
plans cams 10 light in President
! ROoseVelt'S press conference yester-
day Afternoon.
In response to questions, the
President declared himself in favor
Of completely adequate navy and
revealed that q program Of recon-
| nCndatlOns Tor naval expansion is
| DCing worked out inside the ad-
miniStration.
Big Sum Considered.
From other sources, it was
learned that between three and
half and four billion dollars, the
largest sum ever recommended by
an American President in peace
time, and an increase of one and
One-nalt to two billions over this
years layout, is being seriously
considered by army and navy heads
IS their recommendation :or the ma
tional defense budget Tor the next
fiscal year.
President Roosevelt's statements
in press conference were taken to
mean that behind the scenes the
experts are intensely active, for
governments military and naval
the reason, among others, that the
President is by no means certain
that England and France are going
to win
Successful passage by Congress
Of the administrations plan Of re-
pealing the arms embargo will be
followed quickly by the prepara-
ton of recommendations to Con-
gress for expansion of American
naval and land ornaments on sue.
a scale as to safeguard the United
States against attack from either Of
the two let's Of warning powers IN
| Europe.
The President is yesterdays press
conference came out for a COM
pletely adequate navy, in prefer
ence to a "tWo-ocean" navy, which
I've said is a beautiful slogan but
too simple. The Lord only knows,
ne said, whether if we had a two
ocean navy it would pe kept IN TWO
| oceans or only in one.
He then declared Tor a navy OK
| pansion program that will result
in a completely adequate navy He
also confirmed the impression that
large scale additions to last years
huge program are in the offing by
stating that in view of world
changes, the government has to
change its plans from year to year.
This meant that navy which
would have been adequate early
this year, while Europe was still at
peace, might now be entirely in
adequate Wnen war mas llamed over
Europe.
First rumbles of approaching bat
| ties in Congress over the govern
rents preparedness program were
heard today, long before the recon-
mendations are ready.
The administrations theory ha-
been that following repeal OF the
arms embargo the United Ctates
| munitions and airplane industries
would supply France and England
with war materials, and that the
| resulting stimulus to our munitions
and industries would increase our
own preparedness.
But Democratic Senator David l.
| Walsh, of Massachusetts, chairman
|
mittee challenged the theory in the
neutrality debate yesterday.
Addressing an intent and inter-
ested senate, Senator Walsh OPP
posed repeal Of the arms embargo.
GAS every member Of this cham
Der knows, Senator Walsh de-
clared, 1--WE are totally unprepared
to fight even a defensive war.
eve are totally and pitiably I'M
prepared to wage war OF agrees
ion to be carried on abroad which
would require transportation OF
millions of Americans.
"Instead of spending Our. time ana
energy, which will mark us as I'M
neutral before the WORLD, Walsh
said in condemning the arms en-
barge repeal, eve should be build
ing up strong and impregnable
national defense"
Walsh declared that instead OF
lifting the embargo, and permitting
essential war materials go abroad,
this country should keep them at
home, and build up a tWo-ocean
navy, and an airplane fleet that
would make this country impreg-
nable to attack ''from the maddened
tryants and militarists of the
world"
Senator Connally, Democrat,
Texas, accused opponents OF the
neutrality bill of ''filibusterlng"
against that measure.
He made the accusation as play
on words and in a manner SO OIL
hand that it went virtually unno-
ticed by the opposition group, and
for the time being it went unan-
sWered.
1t was the first time, however,
the word had been used by any
senator associated with the leader
ship in the fight for repeal OF the
arms embargo, and thus was re-
garded. as indicative of what some
of them believe they may have TO
contend with before the neutral
ity act reaches a final vote
Meanwhile, the administration
leadership was slowly framing an
amendment to the bill to permit
American vessels to carry cargoes
to any ports in the Pacific and In
dian oceans and possibly to ports
in the south Atlantic.
Chairman Pittman, Democrat,