Evening star., 1939-02-18

By the Associated Press.
The French Air Mission, sent to
this country to buy military planes,
found only two models which could
stand in the air for one second"
against German planes, Secretary of
the Treasury Morgenthau was dis
closed today to have told the Sem
ate Military Affairs Committee
Testimony released by the COM
mittee showed Secretary Morgen-
thau told the Senators on January
q it would be good business" to
sell to the French Douglas attack
bombers of the latest type, one of
the plane types found to be better
than similar German craft.
The French subsequently pur-
chased 100 of these ships.
Testimony also was disclosed
showing Gen. Malin Craig, Army
chief of staff, had indorsed Presi-
dent Roosevelt's policy of promoting
sales of American military planes to
foreign nations.
Opposed Lifting Secrecy.
It also developed that Gen. Craig
opposed lifting the secrecy sur
rounding two models-the P-4O and
the Douglas. Later, he expressed
willingness to release the P-40, but
wanted to keep the Douglas bomber
model secret
Secretary Morgenthau said the
French mission had come to this
country prepared to spend $65 ,0O0,-
600 for planes if they could get de-
livery within six months.
Furthermore" he added, "they
only want planes which are as good
or better than there are planes at
present in Europe.
Nov, when they look over the
field to see what we have got, it
gets down to two companies. just
two companies, two models which
could stand in the air for one Sec
ond against the German plane"
The French mission, in addition to
the Douglas bombers, purchased
Curtiss pursuit planes. =,
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri,, interrupted to say that ''if we
are going to defend the United States
We might want those planes our
selves
To Get Production Started.
II I could finish" Mr.. Nor
genthau came back. You want to
know what the thought was, and the
thought was that this money, these
people being here, that these orders
would be placed at once, and they
would pay for the development cost
and their orders would be out OF the
way and be delivered before Congress
voted the money, and the Army
would have chance to have that
competition later, and that all of
the development costs will be paid
Tor by the French, and we would
get plants into production that are
idle now.
Now, the thought, as I say, that
the President had, with these other
cabinet officers, was that here was
this money-$65. 10000 good, hard
eash-to go into the pockets of
American workmen, and that these
orders could be placed Immediately
and gotten out of the way before
our American business was ready"
In the same testimony Gen. Craig
told the committee at least 18 months
would be required to produce 300
bombers of the Douglas type.
Replying to statement made to
the committee by Senator Austin,
Republican, of Vermont, Gen. Craig,
who previously had objected to the
French plane deal, said he believed
"it Is the soundest kind of a PROPOSE
ton for the United States to seek
the placing of its airplane products
in foreign markets"
1T would settle the question that
has been brought up about main
tanning work on permanent basis
in our factories" Gen. Craig said.
1T settled the question, which is a
terrible bugaboo of obsolescence of
planes.
U. S. Plane Costs High.
"Germany's program of action is
based on getting rid of obsolescent
and surplus planes. Against that
you have to balance the fact that
the German workman will work 16
nours a day for mark a day, day
IN and day out, while ours is a
pretty highlypaid man and he
works only a certain number of |
days week and certain number
(Cee DEEENCE, nor~ y