Evening star., 1939-01-14
The Political Mill
Presidents Defense Message Well Received;
Its Moderate Tone Dsurmed Foes

to be worked Out-there Is still
much to be explained, for example,
about how the training Of 10000 air
pilots Is to be carried out. Until
the congressional committees have
full information, it is impossible to
say exactly how the lines will be
drawn.
Method Of Training Questioned.
There is a very definite feeling
among many members Of Congress
that the training Of this large num-
ber of pilots, to provide reserve
for military service in the event Of
war, should be handled by the
military authorities. And yet, it is
reported that this training of pilots
is to be placed under civil agen-
cies of the Government-for ex-
ample the Civil Aeronautics Author
ity or the National Youth Admin
istration, Of which Aubrey Williams
has recently been named admins
traitor. The President in his mes
sage indicated that this training was
to be primarily for civil aeronau-
tics. To some it appears that what
is needed is reserve Of pilots who
know something about Army and
Navy flying, and the problems which
Army and Navy flyers have to
meet.
Take it by and large, the men,
bers Of Congress are friendly to
adequate preparedness for ma
tional defense. The only question
In the minds Of many Of them has
been what constitutes adequate"
preparations for defense. They do
not intend to be stampeded IN ap-
propriating vast sums Of money,
without knowing how that money is
to be expended, or the reasons
therefor.
The President asked for $500 ,000.-
900 to build 5000 new planes, or
more, for the Army. In his program.
Such an increase In Army air
strength, added to the Nays 5000
plane program, would give this coun-
try approximately 5000 military
planes-although some Of the exist
ing planes are by no means up to
the minute. Such air strength. If
kept up by replacement Of obsolete
planes, would give the United States
a total air feet that should be able
to cope with any threat from outside.
Woodring's Feet on Ground.
Secretary Harry H. Woodring Of
the War Department., according to
reports on Capitol Hill, has been
heartily in favor of just such a pro-
gram-and messages that now
sent to Congress by the President.
In favor OF adequate defense
Mr.. Woodring is credited with
having kept his feet firmly on
the ground. It Is understood, too,
that the recommendations now made
are based on estimates of the mill
tary authorities, and that they will
be backed up by them
The administration has already
met one serious check in its spend
ing program-the House refused to
give the $875 900 900 requested for
the w. P. A. for the rest of the pres
ent fiscal year, cutting it to $725 ,0O0.-
600. This may be cut still further
IA Vic 0SAAoGC. ~ 1lao DCC1l OOtlOUS
that huge expenditures for national
defense, If asked, would meet a SIM
liar fate, unless they were backed
up with unanswerable arguments.
The Congress and the country will
approve what they consider reason
able increases in national defense.
Indeed. the country has Jagged In
this matter-and it was not until
the Roosevelt administration began
to revamp the Navy and to do some
thing here and there for the Army
that a move in the right direction
was made. The country approved
the billion-dollar naval program put
through in the last Congress. It
doubtless will approve the Presi-
dents new program.