Evening star., 1939-02-18
Defense
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Defense
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of hours a day, so that the plane
which formerly cost about $4,000
has run up to over $500, 900; ana
because this applies to everything
concerned with that plane.
THAT is why Germany can SELL
mean foreign nations in general can
sell, their obsolete or obsolescent
planes at prices with which we can
not compete. This presents a prob
lem that we have not yet solved, but
the idea Senator Austin expressed
Is absolutely sound. That is a part
of the Presidents policy, what he is
driving at"
Senator Austin had suggested that
mass production, brought about by
sales of warplanes to foreign govern
ments, would prepare the American
aircraft industry for this Govern
ment's air program.
Discussing the ability OF plane
manufacturers to fill orders, one OF
the principal points in controversy
over permitting the French to pur-
chase in this country, Gen. Craig
said approximately nine months
would elapse after the placing OF an
order before the first plane is de-
uvered.
Attack Bomber Crashed.
"Probably not more than AZ
planes can be procured in the first
IL months" the chief of staff testi-
fled. "Quantity production is
reached in IS month"; therefore,
orders for, say, 300 bombers would
not be filled until 18 months at
best, probably 81 months. Pursuit.
plane orders could probably be pro-
,duced in similar quantities in three
months less time, under secrecy.
There was no question of secrecy
about the Martin bomber 1866 The
P-40 and the Douglas attack
bomber (the plane sold to the
French) are still valuable military
secrets if we are to lead in the air.
However, it was suggested that the
P-40 be released for the proposed
inspection and that the Douglas
attack bomber be held secret.
(which was the plane that
crashed? Was that the attack
bomber?" asked Senator Clark,
Democrat, of Missouri. referring to
a plane wrecked at the Los Angeles
Municipal Airport with a member
Of the French military mission
aboard.
"Yes, sir, that was the Douglas
attack bomber" Gen. Craig replied.
Meanwhile, first major item OF de-
Tense Jegislation-a 1915, 900 900 Army
expansion bill-is expected to come
up in the Senate within two weeks.
Chairman Sheppard said the Mill
tary Affairs Committee would COM
plete hearings on the measure, al
ready approved by the House, In
"three or four days" next Week.
The expenditures which this bill
would authorize, including $500 ,OOO,-
900 to give the Army Air Corps q
strength of $500 planes and facilities
to handle such force, are not ex-
pected to cause so much furore IN
themselves. 1t is in connection with
their relation to foreign policy that
the foreign sales may cause consider
able debate.
Inquiry Record Published.
The Military Committee began
consideration of the Army bill yes
terday, coincident with publication
of the first part of the record OF its
investigation of the sales.
This transcript showed Assistant
Secretary of War Louis johnson
told the committee the War De-
parment objected to the sale OF the
100 Douglas bombers and that
authorization to release. them for
sale came from the President.
The exact grounds of objection
were not made clear. Mr.. johnson
testified the planes were not built
to actual Government specifications
or with the aid of Federal funds
but rather built privately to enter
in Army competition, and were not
therefore, actually subject to Army
control.
Mr.. Roosevelt defended the plane
sales in a press conference yester-
day on his special train en- route
to Key West, Fla.
Asked if he had supervised OF
facilitated the transaction, he said
this was true if his reply was pref
aced by saying the French had an
absolute right to buy, that the sale
was 100 per cent legal and that the
whole Government had facilitated it
Army Entered Protest.
At the Senate Committees in
quiry Maj. Gen. H. H. Arnold, chief
Of the Army Air Corps, testified
the Army had been assured the
French purchases would not be per-
mitted to interfere with the Army S
own expansion program. Gen. Ar
mold explained, however, that i'm
mediately after the War Depart
ment was advised of the French
plans last December it had objected
on the ground that this did not
conform to the release policy" q
policy designed to protect newly de-
veloped military planes against re-
lease to foreign governments
Whether this policy could have
been enforced, in the light Of Mr..