The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-10
$lOO,OOO,OOO
 IN AIR PLANES
(Continued iron, Page D

AuulUlOlldl UypGS are uIlQcT cVdl" ulation at Wright Field Dayton, O. and awards will be announced shortly" the department said.
 The huge bombers ordered today are capable of speeds greatly in excess" of 250 miles per hour, the army said.
 The four Wright cyclone engines are charged to permit high speed attitudes above 10000 feet. ! The planes carry crews of from seven to nine men and mount five machine guns.
 The army refused to disclose the number of planes which the awards will purchase but it was unofficially estimated they will add between 1,- 500 and 2,00O craft to the air force strength.
 Big Air Expansoin
 The contracts, together with pre- vious awards amounting to $54,000,- 900, form major part of a $170,- 100000 air expansion program de- signed to bring army fighting strength to $500 planes by July 1, 1941. The present air force numbers about 2,000 craft.
 The awards followed by less than "A hours a joint army-navy move to enlist the aid of leading business ment and scholars in molding Amer ican industry to the rigid require ments of war. Acting Secretary of War Louis Johnson and Acting Sec retary of the Navy Charles Edison announced the appointment of war resources board, similar to the World War inddustries board, to as- sist in mobilizing economic resources in event national safety is threat ened.
 Congress last session appropriated $500, 100000 to improve the country's power in aviation and build up anti aircraft defenses. Of that amount 70,000,000 will go for actual plane construction. The remainder is ear marked for personnel increases, ex- pansion of air base and training fa- cilities and equipment. More Than Doubled
 In the coming year anti-aircraft batteries will be more than doubled, special emphasis will be placed on mobile units which can be moved quickly to trouble spots. Some equip ment contracts already have been let. Over 25,000 men are being added to the air force personnel, more than doubling its present strength. Private flying schools have been enlisted to augment present army pilot training facilities.
 Some $53,000,000 is being spent to strengthen the defense works sur rounding the Panama Canal, and Secretary of War Harry Woodrin2 is now at the canal inspecting pro- posed developments and the sites where third set of locks is to be installed as a safety measure.
 Government officials said the formation of the resources board was not the result of information indicating hostilities are imminent. rather, they said, 1t is step to pre- pare the country, apd industry in particular, for the rigorous, belt tightening economy necessary in event of major war.
 1C1SIOn III EurUpC
 But the step was taken against a background of increasing tension in Europe and following a statement by President Roosevelt that congress was gambling with 1,500,000, ,O00 lives when it refused to act on his amendments to the neutrality act. It came just before the danger season in international affairs-the fall harvest ended, world granaries filled, and the maximum of manpower re- leased for war.
 In case the United States should become endangered the new board, headed by Edward R. Stettinius, chairman of the board of United States Steel Corporation, would im- mediately become an executive agency of the government and its members full time government of- ficers
 Its broad powers, as yet undefined, probably would need clarifying &C., tion by congress, but members would hold authority to martial all business to the needs of national defense, 1t was believed. Such powers prob- ably would include authority to na- tionalize railroads and communica- tions systems, and require manufac- turers to gear their production ma chinery to the maximum possible output of vital war materials, off, cials said
 Duties of Board
 efTlsn as..sss In A.. Assttao af tt.A h<.a a,.sll probably will consist of general sur veys Of the nations productive ca pacity and the speed with which It's industrial energy can be converted to war purposes. It is likely to follow closely a recent similar survey by the War department Of i2.000 busi- ness establishments. Congress last session appropriated si4,250.000 for educational orders" tO bc placed ...lAa. ..sa.aaa. ka.A.. masa kssss. hfaafa