Evening star., 1939-10-04
SmuggIers Supplying
beIIigerent Vessels
Warned by President
Petrol Forces May Be
Increased to Prevent
Using U. S. Coast as Base.
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

Smugglers. American or other
wise, were under presidential warn
ing today that they had better not
use our coasts as bases from which
to supply belligerent submarines or
other vessels with food and fuel.
The Presidents pronouncement
on the matter was curt but decisive
in answer to questioning at his
press conference late yesterday. Cit
ing reports that such smuggling was
going on, newspaperman asked if
the President would care to say a
word to the wise. He did, to the
effect that If such practice is under
way 1t had better stop Immediately.
An Atlantic patrol of Coast Guard
cutters and Navy destroyers already
Is operating from Maine to the
Caribbean, presumably with discre-
ton to deal harshly with any such
activity as supplying enemy raiders.
In addition, the President admitted
the possibility yesterday that the
patrol forces may be increased as a
result of the Pan-American Con-
ference agreement to throw a neu-
tral seas barrier around the entire
Western Hemisphere.
Forty laidup destroyers Of World
War days are being placed in service
for this patrol duty, and others of q
fleet that numbered more than 100
at Navy docks may be prepared for
duty. To man the extra ships, the
Navy already has called up many
Reserve officers and is now engaged
in recruiting 80 900 additional sailors
Mr.. Roosevelt said yesterday he is
awaiting details on the pan-Ameri-
can agreement and recommenda-
tions from the Navy Department
before deciding whether extra ships
will be required.
Other defense and neutrality
problems were to be discussed by
the President today at a conference
with Assistant Secretary Of War
Louis johnson and luncheon
meeting with Secretary of War
Woodring and Gen. George c. Mar
shall, Army chief of staff.
In connection with the appoint
ments made with War Department
officials and following frequent
stories Of possible shake-up in that
department, White House sources
indicated today that the President
is contemplating no such changes.
1t had been rumored that either
Secretary Woodring or Assistant
Secretary johnson would be re-
placed.
The President also had an ap-
pointment today with Chairman
Robert Bruere of the Maritime La
Dor Board.
To meet needs occasioned by
expansion of Army and Navy per-
sonnel, the President announced
yesterday he is authorizing an i'm
mediate program of increasing
housing and disqualification facili-
ties of all branches of the defense
service. The action will be taken at
once despite absence of funds and
specific prohibitions in appropria-
ton measures dealing with these
matters against incurring deficits.
In explanation, the Chief Execu-
tive said he had discussed the prob
lem twice with Controller General
Brown and with officials Of the War
and Navy Departments. Despite the
legal barriers, it was decided it was
the clear intent of Congress that the
President should have sufficient dis
cretionary authority to meet emer-
gency conditions and on this basis
action would proceed with legaliza-
ton to be requested when Congress
returns in January.
No Ban On Paying Personnel.
No such deficit prohibition exists
in the matter of paying, clothing
and feeding extra personnel.
The new quarters will be built at
naval stations at Newport, Chicago,
Norfolk and San Diego, and at scat
tered Army posts throughout the
country.
Mr.. Roosevelt also declared yes
terday that he had recommended to
a House progressive bloc that it defer
it's efforts to enact war profits reg
ulatory legislation until further
study of the matter can be made and
a need demonstrated.
A committee of six, all Demo-
Gratis, called at the White House
yesterday to urge immediate action
in this matter as an accompaniment
to lifting the arms embargo.
Several bills to accomplish the
purpose already are pending, the
fundamental objective of the group
being to limit the profits Of COM
panies which would benefit directly
from removal of the embargo.
Contending that no excess profits
are yet fact or in sight, Mr.. Roose-
velt proposed further study as being