Evening star., 1939-01-12
Presidents Defense Message
Congress Asked to Take Early Action
On Emergency Program

message to Congress today fol-
lows:
In my annual message to this
Congress I have spoken at some
length of the changing world
conditions outside Of the Amer-
ican hemisphere which make it
imperative that we take immed-
late steps for the protection OF
our liberties.
It would be unwise for any Of
us to yield to any form Of hys-
terra. Nevertheless, regardless
of political Affiliations, we can
properly join in an appraisal OF
the world situation and agree on
the immediate defense needs Of
the Nation.
1t is equally sensational and
untrue to take the position that
We must at once spend billions
of additional money for build
ing up our land, sea and air force
on the one hand, or to insist that
no further additions are neces-
sary on the other.
What needs to be emphasized
is the great change which has
come over conflicts between ma
tions since the World War ended,
and especially during the past
f1ve or six years.
Year Of Peace at Home
To Prepare for Defense.
Those of us who took part in
the conduct Of the World War
will remember that in the prep
: aration of the American armies
for actual participation in battle,
the United States, entering the
war on April s, 1917, took no part
whatsoever in any major engage
ment until the end of May, 1918.
In other words, while other arm
les were conducting the actual
fighting, the United States had
more than year Of absolute
peace at home without any
threat Of attack on this conti-
nent, to train men, to produce
raw materials, to process them
into munitions and supplies and
to forge the whole into fighting
forces. It is even a matter of
record that as late as the autumn
Of 1913, American armies at the
front used almost exclusively
French or British artillery and
aircraft.
Calling attention to these facts
does not remotely intimate that
the Congress or the President
have any thought of taking part
in another war on European soil,
but it does show that in 1917 we
were not ready to conduct large
scale land or air operations. Rel
atively we are not much more
ready to do 50 today than we
were then-and we cannot guar
antee a long period free from
attack in which we could prepare.
Necessary to Restudy
Present U. 8. Defense.
I have called attention to the
fact that I'VE must have armed
forces and defenses strong
enough to ward of sudden at
tack against strategic positions
and key facilities essential to in
sure sustained resistance and ul-
innate victory" And I have
said, 1--WE must have the organ
ization and location Of those key
facilities so that they may be
Immediately utilized and rapidly
expanded to meet all needs with
out danger of serious interrupt
ton by enemy attack"
I repeat that there is new
range and speed to offense."
Therefore, it has become nec-
essary for every American to re-
study present defense against the
possibilities Of present of1ense
against us.
Careful examination Of the
most imperative present needs
leads me to recommend the ap-
preparation at this session Of
the Congress, with as great speed
as possible, Of approximately
$525, 900, 900, Of which sum ap-
proximately $210, ,0OO, 900 would be
actually spent from the Treas
ury before the end Of the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1910.
The survey indicates that OF
this sum approximately $3.50, ,000,-
600 should be allocated for new
needs Of the Army. $65 600 900 for
new needs Of the Navy and $10,-
600 900 for training of civilian air
pilots.
Complete Revision
OF Aircraft Estimates.
The several items viii be sub
mitted to the appropriate COM
mittees Of the Congress by the
departments concerned. and I
need. therefore, touch ealy a