The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-10-23

Over $100,000,0 ,000 worth of planes are awaiting export to Europe. Stymied in delivery by the embar- go, they have been jamming stor- age facilities on the Pacific Coast and near Baltimore. Confident that Congress is set to repeal the embargo, British and French au- thorities have been rushing ar- arrangements, for getting the planes overseas.
 Taking them over "On the wing" was decided on as the safest way to avoid heavy losses. A torpe- doed ship would mean the loss of 20 or 30 planes at one time, while the danger of loss during flight from Newfoundland - 1900 miles across the Atlantic-is estimated at much less-perhaps ratio of l in 20.
 Moreover, the British have a powerful radio guide at Botwood, Newfoundland. With its help and the great speed of the ships, their passage across the Atlantic will not be such a hazardous venture.
 How many British and French pilots and crews have been as- sembled at Botwood is not known, but confidential reports indicate that already there are several hundred. Botwood is one of the greatest land and Seaplane bases in this hemisphere and probably was constructed by Britain with this very purpose in mind.
 Five of the largest plane
 manufacturers are making ships
 for the Allies-Lockheed, Doug
 las, Martin, Curtiss and North
 American. The first three have
 big contracts for twin -m0t0red
 bombers, the other two for pur-
 suit and attack planes. The lat
 ter could not be flown to Europe,
 as their sustained flight range is
 only a few hours.
 NOTE - Mayor Ellenstein of Newark, N. J., recently refused permission to store 60 Lockheed bombers at the giant Newark air. port. Ellenstein claimed there was 'no more room", but insiders say he feared sabotage attempts and didn't want to take the respon- sibility for guarding the ships. WHO'S ANDREWS?
 Ex Wage Hour Administrator Elmer Andrews interview with Federal Loans Administrator Jes- SC Jones, when he went to see him about getting an REC job, was a shock to both of them.
 When the White House notified Andrews ne was being replaced as Wage-Hour boss, he was also offered the choice of several other jobs, one of them With the REC. Andrews finally decided to look the REC over and asked for an appointment with Jones. Jones received him cordially, but seemed mystiied.
 Where have you worked, MT. Andrews2" he asked.
 q am with the Wage Hour Administration"
 "Oh, yes," said Jesse, land just what do you do there?" NOTE-With not uncommon in- efficiency, the White House staff had forgotten to inform Jones about the offer of an REC job to Andrews.
 AFL BOAT-ROCKING
 The secret plans of AFL moguls to retire Secretary = Treasurer Frank Morrison at the recent con- vention were very nearly upset by the white-thatched veteran him. self. The attendant rumpus also gave Harry Bates, jut-jawed boss oh the bricklayerS, chance to scuttle scheme to elect Dick Ornburn, chief of the union label trades department, as Morrison's successor.
 Last summer the inner clique decided among themselves to shelve the 80-year-old Morrison, but when The Washington Merry Go-Round revealed the plan it was hotly denied by the AFL pulp licity agent on orders from above. This official refutation, plus Mor- rison's 40 years of service in the AFL, convinced him he need not worry.
 But at the convention he soon learned better. He was told he would be retired, but with his full pay of $10,000 year. This tempt ing concession. however, did not appease Morrison.
 Nothing doing,' he rasped at John Coefield, plumbers presi- 6ent and Herbert Ravera see.