Evening star., 1939-01-12


nation from other nations leads
us to believe that there must be
a complete revision of our esti-
mates for aircraft. The Baker
Board report Of a few years ago
is completely out of date. No re-
sponsible officer advocates build
ing our air forces up to the total
either of planes on hand or of
productive capacity equal to the
forces of certain other nations.
We are thinking in the terms Of
necessary defenses and the con-
clusion is inevitable that our ex-
isting forces are so utterly made
ouate that they must be imme-
diately strengthened.
It Is proposed that $500 900 900
be appropriated for the purchase
of several types of airplanes for
the Army. This should provide
minimum increase of 5000
planes, but it is hoped that orders
placed on such = large scale will
materially reduce the unit cost
and actually provide many more
planes.
Military aviation is increasin
today at an unprecedented and
alarming rate. Increased range,
increased speed, increased ca
pacity of airplanes abroad have
changed our requirements for
defensive aviation. The additional
planes recommended will consid-
erably strengthen the air defenses
OF the Continental United States.
Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and
the Canal Zone. If an appropri-
alton bill can be quickly enacted,
I suggest that $50, 900 900 of the
$500 ,O0O, 900 for airplanes be made
Immediately available in order to
correct the present lag In aircraft
production due to idle plants.
Suggests $4,000, 900
For Critical Items"
OF the balance of approximate
~ $l50.00O,000 requested for the
Army, I suggest an appropriation
Of $1lo, ,ooo, 900 to provide critical
Items OF equipment which would
be needed Immediately in time Of
emergency and which cannot be
obtained from any source within
the time and quantity desired
material such as anti-aircraft
artillery. semi-automatic rifles.
anti-tank guns, tanks, light and
heavy artillery, ammunition and
gas masks. Such purchases
would go far to equip existing
units Of the Regular Army and
the National Guard.
l suggest approximately $32-
100000 for educational orders'
Tor the army-in other words to
enable industry to prepare for
quantity production in an emer-
gency Of those military items
which are non-commercial in
character and are SO difficult of
manufacture as to constitute
what is known as "bottlenecks"
In the problem Of procurement
The balance should be used
1 believe. for improving and
strengthening the seacoast de-
lenses of Panama, Hawaii and
the continental United States.
including the construction of a
highway outside the limits of the
Panama Canal Zone, important
to the defense Of the zone.
Strengthening Of Navy
Bases in Both Oceans.
The estimated appropriation of
$65, 900 600 for the navy should
be divided into Ca 50, 900 900 for
the creation or strengthening of
navy bases in both oceans in
general agreement with the re-
port of the Special Board which
has already been submitted to
the Congress, (b) about $21,OOO,-
600 for additional navy airplanes
and air material tests.
Finally, national defense calls
for the annual training of addi-
tional air pilots. This training
should be primarily directed to
the essential qualifications for
civilian flying. In cooperation
with educational institutions. it
Is believed that the expenditure
of $4,000, 900 year will give pri-
mary training to approximately
10000 citizens.
In the above recommendations
for appropriations totaling $685.
000, 900, 1 have omitted reference
to . definite need, which, how
ever. relates to the implementing
Of existing defenses for the
Panama Canal. The security Of
the canal is Of the utmost Inn
portance. The peace garrison now
there is inadequate to defend this
vital link. This deficiency can
not be corrected with existing
forces without seraously teopardis-