Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-27
Films Negotiate Here
For Guns, Mortars;
May Strike Delay
U. S. Army Has Placed
Orders for Weapons
And Has Priority

The Finnish purchasing mission
opened negotiations here today fol-
the purchase of additional large
quantities of military supplies, in
Guiding the Army's latest anti-air-
craft and anti-tank guns and trench
mortars.
1t. Gen. Vilho Peter Nenonen
who heads the mission, and Col
Per Zilliacus, the Finnish military
Attache here, visited the War De-
partment today and conferred with
high officials on the proposed order
1t was understood the Firms desire
this Government approval OF sales
by American manufacturers of a
large number of l27-mm. anti air
craft machine guns, the 76.2-mm
anti-aircraft gun, the Army's highly
effective 37-mm. anti-tank gun and
mortars. They also want a large
quantity of ammunition for each
type of gun
It was indicated there would be
considerable difficulty in filling such
orders for immediate delivery. as the
Firms urgently desire. 1t happens
that these are the same items in
which the United States Army is
largely deficient, and the War De-
partment has placed large orders for
them as a part Of this country's
national defense DrOQran
Already Getting A Planes.
The Films, fighting Russian in
vaders. have already contracted for
"A of the Nays latest type of fight
ing planes. These planes, similar
to the Army's pursuit ships, were
obtained from the Brewster Air
craft Corp. of New York when the
Navy waived its prior orders. The
Navy, it was explained at the time
the orders were placed by the Firms
will accept delivery at later date
getting a later and more improved
model of the same type of ship.
These planes, it is understood, are
being completed for the Firms in
record breaking time 1t is expect
ed they will be ready for shipment
not later than the middle of Janu
airy, two weeks or more ahead OF
schedule. How they will be shipped
to Finland remains closely guard
ed secret, but it is understood all
arrangements have been made to
get them to Finland without delay
Tho Ejpnich ooVorpvpoot oroo FLU
inferior to Russia in air strength
is sorely i'll need of pursuit ships
of this type to fight off swarms OF
Russian bombers who have been
attacking Finnish cities. The planes
have speed in excess Of any Rus
sian ships and embody many OF
the latest developments in fighting
planes.
Ready to Sign for Gas Masks.
The Firms also were reported
ready to sign a contract for 10000
military gas masks for immediate
delivery. Last week the Finnish mil
itary attache announced that bids
for this large order of gas masks had
been received from four American
manufacturers.
The Finnish purchasing mission,
composed of Gen. Nenonen and Will
helm Wahlfor, a Finnish Industrial
list, has established headquarters in
washington. Gen. Nenonen and
Mr.. Wahlfor are being assisted by
Col. ZilliacuS.
Gen. Nenonen is noted in military
circles for the development of a
formula for artillery firing of ex-
ceptional accuracy. He arrived in
this country only last week and came
at once to Washington. While
speaking no English, he converses
readily in French, German, Swedish
and, of course, his native tongue
His conversation with War Depart
ment officials, when no interpreter
was used, was in French. His as
sociate, Mr.. Wahlfor, who is in the
steel business, speaks English.
They conferred with War Depart
ment officials because all foreign
orders for military supplies, includ-
ing planes, must be approved by a
joint Army and Navy Clearance
Board.