Evening star., 1939-01-05
National Defense
Budget Largest
In Past 19 Years
General Expansion
Of the Military Is
Recommended
Recommended

VI tne Miiitu1y IS
Recommended
Twenty-four hours after his warn
ing to Congress Of growing foreign
threats to world peace and Ameri-
can security, President Roosevelt
today submitted, in his annual bud
get message, a $1.3ls $50 900 national
defense program.
Despite the fact these are the
largest Army and Navy estimates
In 10 years, President Roosevelt said
the real necessity for expanding
our national defense" will require a
special $500,000, 900 appropriation in
addition to increases in the regular
annual military funds. Only $210,-
O000 900 is to be disbursed during
this fiscal year, however, and the
balance is not included In the
$1.319, $4,000 outlay.
For more officers, men airrlanes
and guns, the President proposed
in his budget message to increase
actual defense expenditures 80 per
cent.
In addition to this would be the
projected $4,000, 900 extraordinary
appropriation, with the other $500
100000 to be appropriated later as
a reserve to meet subsequent ex-
penditures, under present plans.
Because of the conditions of mod
ern warfare" Mr.. Roosevelt ex-
planned, I'VE must perform in ad-
vance tasks that formerly could be
postponed until war had become
imminent"
Vast Increase Asked.
To meet the regular budget re-
quirements of the Army and Navy
the President asked a total of
81 los, ,557 900, an increase of $99,-
$4,000, for strictly military pur-
poses.
He requested $667, ,4e8 300 for the
Navy, an increase of $92 ,589 ,250, and
proposed that funds available for
naval construction be increased by
$115,113,1 $50 to $270,0OO, 900. The con-
struction increase, he explained, pro-
vides for continuing work on some
80 vessels already under way and
for beginning construction in 1910
of two battleships, which may be the
worlds largest; two cruisers, eight
destroyers, eight submarines, two
seaplane tenders and one repair
ship.
In the face of growing agitation
for expansion of the Army air
forces, the budget estimates for the
Army Air Corps submitted to Con-
gress today are smaller than cur
rent appropriations. This strength
ened the belief the President plans
to include major Army air de-
fense item in his $500,000,o00 eX-
traordinary defense program.
Although the Army Air Corps esti-
mates were reduced. however, the
Navy Bureau of Aeronautics received
a relatively tremendous increase, a
major portion of it for new aircraft.
The bureau for the current fiscal
year received $48,075 900, including
$3,875,0OO appropriated in the Second
Deficiency Appropriation Act, 1888.
It's estimates for the coming fiscal
year are $74,000,0OO. an increase of
s25 ,925 900.
The Army Air Corps received ap-
propriations totaling $7O,556,972 for
the current fiscal year, while its
budget estimate for the coming fiscal
year was $67 SOC, ,440, or a reduction
Of more than $2,750,O00.
May Ask Many More Planes.
Conjecture as to the number OF
combat airplanes the President may
recommend for the Army Air Corps
in his national defense budget has
been on the increase since Assistant
Secretary of War Louis johnson,
following a conference with the Ma
tion's aircraft manufacturers, re-
Gently recommended a construction
program which would produce 10000
airplanes in two years. The present
authorized Air Corps strength is
1920 aircraft. Actually, however, the
Air Corps still Is far short of this
total, it is said.
The increase for the Navy Bureau
OF AeronauticS is taken as an indi-
cation that no additional aircraft
for the Navy will be requested in
the special defense budget.
For new construction and procure
ment Of aircraft and equipment the
Navy Bureau of Aeronautics is al
lowed $37 100000 under the new
budget, as compared with the cur
rent appropriation of $21 ,258, ,O00
The amount for maintenance and
operation of air stations, the fleet
air bases and all other aviation ac-
tivities is increased from $19 ,069, 300
to $24,90O,000. The total for navi-
gational, Photographic, Astrological
radio and miscellaneous equipment
for the naval air forces Is increased
from 1858, 700 to $1,500,00O.
The budget estimates include
100000 for continuing construction
Of the rigid airship authorized in
the act of May II, 1888. Bids for
construction of this airship are to
be opened at the Navy Department
February 2.
Employ More Technicians.
Inc Budget bureau cleared the
way for substantial increases in the
employment of scientists, techni-
clans and other employees for the
Bureau of Aeronautics and for call
ing members of the Naval Reserve
to active duty. The current appro-
priation of s2,903,50O for these pur-
poses is increased to $9,50O,000 ir
the estimates.
For the Army Air Corps the 194(
budget estimates include SIS 1926 1884,
for procurement of new airplanes
as compared with current total o1
$16,126,894. The Air Corps, in add.
ton, is authorized during the coming
fiscal year to incur obligations moi
to exceed $12,7OO,OOO for new air.
craft before the end of the 194(
fiscal year, as compared with 6
similar cOntractual limitation O