Evening star., 1939-01-25
Defense Par|ey
Hears Senator
Rake Dictators
Lucas Says Research
At Cost of Wurship
Would Put u. S. in Van

"the import of the Notwithstanding
events occurring all about us, and
only the irresponsible and careless
could fail to heed the warning con-
tanned therein" Senator Lucas,
Democrat, of Illinois told the
Women's Patriotic Conference for
National Defense at the Mayflower
Hotel today.
"It is apparent that we aren't
dealing with rational beings" he
said in an address on national de-
fense. "We are menaced by power
drunk monomaniacs who are per-
fectly willing to 60 to any extremes
armed warfare if bluff proves in
sufficient-to obtain their ends.
These are the leaders who sneer-
ingly refer to us as that believing
herd of democracy who charge
that our liberty is only a myth, who
villify and declaim against our pub
lie officials, who actually have en-
gagged in the destruction of Ameri-
can property and, in at least one
notable instance, have been re-
sponsible for the death of American
citizens"
Commenting on the Presidents
recent forceful statements regarding
dictator nations. Senator Lucas said,
Since the only language they speak
is the language of force, the only
language they understand is force"
Research and One Battleship.
He declared it significant that "for
the cost of single battleship
enough money could be provided to
finance for four years the labora-
tory work for some of the Nations
best brains to make this country alb
solutely supreme in ability to pro-
duce the most modern airplanes,
anti-aircraft guns, motors, metals,
munitions, instruments and other
vital necessities of war.
I'VE can produce faster airplanes,
deadlier machine guns and bombs
and better defense artillery than
any other nation if our scientists
and technical experts are given an
opportunity and are properly
financed
The United States is potentially
the most powerful military nation in
the world-but only potentially
Secretary of War Harry H. Wood
ring said last night at the opening
Of the conference.
1--WE have potential soldiers of
high intelligence, we lead the world
in industrial efficiency and we are
virtually, though not completely, in
dependent in the matter of raw ma
terials,' said Secretary Woodring.
Must Prepare in Peace.
However, it is essential that we
make available in peace time the
critical items of munitions which
initially will be consumed in event
of war. These munitions require
from a year to a year and half for
production, and no delays are
brooked when nations go to war in
this day and age. Formal declara-
ton of war has been relegated to the
history book
1T is perfectly conceivable that
the actual impact of aerial bombs on
the locks of the Panama Canal
might signalize the abrupt entrance
of the United States into a major
armed conflict the Secretary de-
clared The security of naval bases,
he continued, depends upon the
strength of land forces of the Reg
ular Army.
Speaking from the same platform
last night was Stephen F. Chadwick,
national commander of the Amer
lean Legion.
Discussing national defense, he
said: 1--WE must have such conf
dence in our chosen representatives
that we can entrust to them at all
times the right to meet aggression
before it ripens into invasion. We
should choose representatives worthy
of such confidence.
Sessions Resumed Today.
If some Of our public representa-
tives of today are not worthy of
our trust, then let us impress Into
the public service representatives in
whom we have confidence, but let us
not abandon the lessons of history
and destroy the valuable elements
of security which exist in the flex-
ibility found in our representative
system of government
With Mrs. James Morris, national
president of the American Legion
Auxiliary and chairman of the con-
ference, presiding, sessions were re-
sumed at the Mayflower this morn
ing.
Other speakers at the morning
session were Maj Gen. H. H. Ar
mold, chief of the Army Air Corps;
Rear Admiral William G. Du Bose,
chief of construction of the Navy,
and Representative Mott of Oregon,
member of the House Naval Affairs
Committee.
Gen. Arnold first discussed the
Presidents new national air pro-
gram and a proposed appropriation
of 300,000,000 for Army airplane
purchases.
1--WE proposed the allotment of
over S170000,00O of that sum for
the procurement of new military
airplanes," Gen. Arnold said. This
will provide us more than 5000
additional modern planes, of which
considerably more than 1000 will
be Of the latest combat types. This
will give our Army a total strength
we'll in excess of $500 planes"
approximately $33,0O0,00O of the
fund will be devoted to additional
personnel "in order that there may
be combat and maintenance crews
and operating and directing per-
sonnel essential to make these new
planes effective military weapons,
he declared.
Admiral Du Bose spoke on "The
Shore Navy" discussing the shore