Evening star., 1939-04-19
BULLETIN.
By the Associated Press.


CABINET was reported today to have
decided to establish a supply de-
partment to speed provision of war
material needed for Britain's vast
rearmament program.
Establishment of an agency to CO.
ordinate the purchase of war ma
terials for the fighting services
army, air force and navy-was
known to have been considered by
the ministers in a session lasting
more than an hour.
Whether the new department
would have the status of a gov
ernment ministry headed by chief
OF cabinet rank was not Immediately
disclosed.
Prime Minister Chamberlain was
expected to announce the decision
in the House of Commons today.
No Report on Front Progress.
Mr.. Chamberlain told the House
that Britain still was in close
contact with other governments
about enlarging the French British
front but he had nothing to report
on the progress of conversations.
The premier, pressed to include
China and other Far Eastern gov
ernments in his bloc of nations, said
he would bear in mind the "desir-
ability" of such a move.
Richard A. Butler, undersecretary
for foreign affairs, told the House
that there has recently been a
substantial increase in the number
Of men under arms in Italy and a
corresponding increase of the forces
in the Dodecanese Islands" He
gave no figures.
Winston Churchill, former first
lord of the admiralty and wartime
minister of munitions, has beeli
mentioned as possible supply min
lister. Many, however, have con-
tended that, if he joins the cabinet,
he should be given a non-depart-
mental post so that he would not be-
laden with routine duties.
War Material Urgently Needed.
The supply department., at least
during the early stages, would be
concerned mainly with providing
material for the army. The war Of
flee urgently needs additional equip
ment for the territorial army tsimi-
lar to the National Guard which
Is being expanded to more than
twice its old peacetime strength.
Adoption of some form of mill
tary conscription;
Reorganization of the voluntary
national service register-the listing
OF volunteers for emergency, jobs in
wartime-so as to release additional
men for service in the territorial,
or home, army;
Inauguration of compulsory non-
military physical training for Brit
ish youth;
A policy of building deep AFRAID
shelters.
Supply Ministry Favored.
Several ministers, particularly
War Minister Leslie Hore-Belisha,
were known to regard establishment
of the supply ministry as an urgent
necessity, although some critics
have asserted a broad review of
war material requirements to start
the ministry would mean an initial
delay in arms production.
1t was believed unlikely the cab
met would alter its present view
that conscription would be unwise
at this stage. The ministers fear
compulsory military service would
antagonize a large section of the
trade union movement.
1t was believed, however, that the
government would approve a sys-
tenn of compulsory physical train
ing tor youth under the joint di-
rection of the boards of health and
education as measure of war pre-
paredness.
Bloc Activity Shifts.
Meanwhile diplomatic activity to
secure fresh pledges in the British
French system of guarantees against
German-Italian expansion shifted
from London to the capitals of So
Wet Russia, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Political quarters said the effort
in Moscow was to secure individ-
ual pledges by Soviet Russia to ma
tions of the French British front to
give military aid when requested.
Uvan Maisky, Soviet Russian
Ambassador to Britain, paused
at Helsingfors, Finland, today on
a flying trip to Moscow for con-
sultations on proposed air pact
with Britain and France. II
have no agreements in my pock-
et," he said. He will fly to Len
ingrad tonight)
In Sofia and Ankara, Turkey was
urging Bulgaria to join the London.
Paris coalition.