Evening star., 1939-03-20
Fund Of $7,300,000
Sought for Training
Civilian Pilots
Aeronuutics Authority
Tells Congress Unit
Of Defense Needs
BACKGROUND

6AChGROUND-
Taking cognisance of unsettled
tDorld conditions and ornaments
races in other countries, President
Roosevelt asked the present Con-
gress to Uote defense program
to cost $552 ,OOO, 900. First part of
this plan aDas $358,OOO, 900 Army
expansion plan 1Dhich 1DaS passed
quickly By both the House and
the Senate and 1Uhich is no,U in
conference for adjustment of
some differences.
By the Associated Press.
The Civil Aeronautics Authority,
reporting that aggressor nations had
startled us into action" asked Con-
gress today for a s7,3O0OO0 appro-
priation to train civilian air pilots.
Robert Hinckley, member of the
authority, told the House Interstate
Commerce Committee that the
agency's program to train 10000
pilots for use in a possible emer-
gency would be formidable and
salutary deterrent" to an aerial at
tack against the Western Hemi-
sphere.
1t was in keeping with the Amer
ican spirit of preparedness, Mr.
Hlnckley said, ito build up a great
pool of men and machines dedicated
to and engaged in the pursuits of
peace, but yielding first place to no
other nation in flying skill or tech
nical development"
only by such an approach, the
authority believes, can the United
States adequately safeguard itself
against the vast militarization pro-
grams now being pressed with fanati-
cal zeal by foreign powers, unless
it is to emulate their warlike prep
arations."
Says Private Flying Neglected.
Mr.. Hinckley said private flying,
important as backlog of aerial
manpOwer in the event of a ma
tional emergency, had been neg
lected.
He added the supply of pilots in
private aviation would be totally
inadequate to meet any national
emergency"
The witness said the authority S
program contemplated use of COM
mercial equipment at many colleges
and universities throughout the
Nation He disclosed that 300 STU
dents already were taking the train
ing in q dozen schools.
Freshmen will be given prelimi-
nary flight training, and the best
students continued into advanced
flying in sophomore, junior and
senior years.
The War and Navy Departments
have approved the proposal, Mr.
Hinckley said.
Best Condition in History.
Military advisers indicated,
meanwhile, that completion of the
arms reinforcement program. already
partially approved by Congress,
would put the Nations peace time,
land, sea and air forces in the best
condition in history.
President Roosevelt's S552 600, ,OOO
defense program. coupled with the
Navy's request for about $3.50 900 .OOO
and the Army's annual appropri-
alton of $45OO00,0O0, promise these
results within two years:
!. The strongest American Navy
in history, rivaled in might only by
Britain's.
2. An Army Air Corps of 5000
planes, among the worlds largest
and a naval air force of possibly
1900 planes.
3. A Regular Army of 2O5 900 Off
GERS and men. fully equipped for
the first time with modern weapons
and a National Guard of the same
size better armed than at any time
since the World War. Much equip
ment also will be on hand for an
army of 100000 in event of emer-
gency.
4. Industry geared to turn out
10000 warplanes a year and ready
to start a vast flow of munitions on
short notice.
5. Stronger permanent defenses
AoA tilC AlldLltlC dllu IdClllC coasts,
the Panama Canal, and Hawaii, and
numerous new air and naval bases.
Equipment for Army.
Congressional approval of legisla-
ton embodying War Department
requests will provide the Army with
All equipment for "a modern anti
aircraft regiments. although some
will be inactive or skeletonized.
Sufficient semi-automatic rifles,
anti-tank guns, communication
equipment, new or modernized artil-
lery, gas masks and other arms for
basic land force of 100000, along
with necessary reserves of ammuni-
ton.
More than 10000 of the new
semi-automatic rifles. which the
Army considers the worlds best in
fantry weapon, are to be turned out
in two years.
President Roosevelt has asked an
emergency appropriation of s11O,-
600, 900 for the armament program