Evening star., 1939-09-06
Patrol
Continued From First Page)

safely home from Europe, was tc
be discussed at luncheon meeting
with Myron Taylor. who has been
active in efforts of the past year to
aid refugees from Germany, and
Undersecretary of State Sumner
Welles.
With the salient feature of the
neutrality program being an embargo
against shipment of American War
equipment to belligerent powers, OF
to neutrals for trans shipment, close
attention was being directed today at
Canada's conduct and the possibility
the Dominion, not yet formally at
war, might function as a channel
through which materials purchased
here could flow to the battle fronts
While the neutrality law Is per-
fectly clear in its prohibition against
the export of arms. ammunition or
| implements of war for trans
shipment" there appeared to be at
least two immediate means by which
Canada could serve either briefly
or for an indefinite period as supply
base for the allied belligerent powers
/ First of these would be for the
! Dominion to refrain from an actual
/ declaration of war until such time
as It could purchase and obtain con-
siderable quantities of American
planes and equipment. even to the
point of creating a Canadian air
force far beyond its logical strength
At the same time, of course, produc-
ton of Canadian factories could be
turned over to Great Britain or
France without regard for Canada S
own needs.
Second possibility, and a more
likely one than the first, would be
the establishment or expansion of
production facilities in Canada
through use of American capital. A
substantial nucleus for such produc-
tion machinery already exists in
Canada, many American co'oc ms
ring plants there. In fact.
American investments in Ua.-.,,..
are estimated to be greater than in
any other country, totaling at least
$4,000 100000.
More Immediate Concerns.
More immediate concerns of the
United States Government were
outlined by President Roosevelt yes
terday as he issued his general proc
lamations of neutrality and the i'm
position of the arms embargo.
Scheduled for action in the next few
days, he said, are plans to accom-
plish the following:
l. Bring up to full peacetime
strength the Nays personnel, now
Is per cent short of that goal.
2. Recommission and provide crews
for some of the lis World War type
destroyers to help patrol American
shores. Six of these already have
been ordered into commission at the
Philadelphia Navy Yard. In con-
nection with the patrol duty ordered
today for the Navy, it was disclosed
that of the lis inactive destroyers
approximately 40 have been kept in
such condition that they could be
put into service as soon as crews
were ready. probably within two
weeks. The others would require re-
conditioning.
3. Provide additional men for the
Army in the Canal Zone and Puerto
Rico.
4. Augment precautionary meas
| ures against communistic and die
tatorship propaganda in this coun-
| try, or any other propaganda aimed
at our system of government.
5. Guard further against efforts
to use this country as a center for
gathering information that might
help any bellgerent.
Navy Strength High Now.
Relative to the contemplated in
crease in Navy personnel, the NAVY
Department said today its enlisted
strength as of August % was no. 651
men and 10,431 officers, with about
10000 in the Marine Corps. The
Marines and the officer personnel of
the Navy are at approximately full
strength.
BY contrast, the authorized en-
listed strength of the Navy is 131, ,485
men and 5000 apprentice seamen.
To man fully all vessels now in.
commission, the Navy would require
slightly fewer than the total author
lied strength, perhaps 1000 men,
it was estimated by the department.
This requirement would be increased.
OF course, If large fleet of de-
stroyers should be recommissioned
and placed in patrol service.
AS to availability of its personnel
needs, the Navy explained that it
has plenty of men on the waiting
lists at recruiting stations and would
not be forced to make any drive for
new enlistments.