Evening star., 1939-02-09
Debate on Defense
Will Start in House
On Monday
Rules Committee Acts
After Told Army Hos
Only .446 Planes
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The House Rules Committee de-
cided today to bring the major part
Of President Roosevelt's special de-
fense program to the House floor
Monday for six hours of debate. The
committee acted after hearing Rep
resentative Andrews, Republican. Of
New York assert the Army Air Corps
has only l,446 serviceable warplanes.
The program would authorize ex-
pansion of the Army Air Corps to
$500 planes. The House Military
Affairs Committee said yesterday
they were urgently needed because
war may develop In Europe at an
early date.
Representative Andrews, senior
member of the Military Committee,
told the rules group the Air Corps
had only 1877 planes of all kinds
at this time and that 351 Of them
were obsolete.
In addition to the new planes, the
legislation would provide more than
$23, ,000,000 for Panama Canal Zone
defenses and authorize use of $32,-
100000 for "educational orders" to
train private industry in production
Of war materials.
Discussion of defense and foreign
policy was likely in the Senate to-
day, although Majority Leader
Barkley indicated he planned to
ask adjournment until Monday
after transaction of routine busi-
ness.
Must Be Prepared.
The House committee report said
indications are that war may come
in Europe at an early date"
When and if that unfortunate
and regrettable situation occurs" it
said, "it will be imperative and essen
tial that we be prepared and
equipped with the necessary air fleet
and armed forces to provide ade-
quate protection for our own shores
that we may command respect OF
our rights at least in our own coun-
try"
The committee said France and
Great Britain began defense pro-
grams two years ago, yet neither had
reached stage OF mass production.
1t pointed out that both countries
were now placing orders for airplane
equipment In this country, and
added:
These orders, we are informed,
are being rushed as rapidly as pos
sible."
Minority Report Signed.
Ten Republicans and one Demo-
crat on the committee signed a mi
nority report which, while indorsing
the program generally as sound
and reasonable, warned that failure
to limit the War Department to pro-
curement of not more than 1000 of
the new planes in any one fiscal year
would mean that the entire 3,032
additional airplanes would be or
dered this year under frozen specifi-
cations"
1T is essential that our Govern
ment keep itself in position to take
full advantage Of scientific research
from year to year" the minority
said, rather than commit itself to
the production now under frozen
specifications of the balance of the
3,032 planes in this authorization"
The lone Democrat who sided with
the minority was Representative An
derson of Missouri
Talk of Politics Heard.
Meanwhile, the contention was
heard again that politics was playing
a large part in the controversy over
the projected sale of American-made
planes to France.
Senator Connally, Democrat, Of
Texas said he was prepared to tell
some other Senators they ought to
quit talking in the interest Of world
peace.
THE President enunciated a good,
sound doctrine of foreign policy in
the four points he outlined the
other day." said Senator Connally,
a member of the Foreign Relations
Committee This is the time to de-
ASeC POlAbASo 4IOlll Ool ClSIl
and present a united front to the
world"
Senator Logan, Democrat, of Ken
lucky, agreeing with Senator Con-
nally, observed:
There seem to be too many presi-
dental candidates in the Senate"
Plan Inspection in South.
Eleven members of the House
Naval Committee are to leave
soon for a personal inspection of
several sites in South Carolina,
Georgia and Florida for the major
naval air base which the Navy De-
partment has recommended for the
Southeastern coast.
In conformity with the report Of
the special Hepburn Naval Board,
the department approved location of
the base near Jacksonville, Fla, at
an initial cost of $15,171 900.
Because of admitted disadvan-
tages in that location and testimony
by high-ranking naval officers that
Miami would be a better location
from a purely strategical viewpoint,
the committee decided to see for
itself.