Evening star., 1939-01-12
By G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY u. GOULD LINCOLN.
President Roosevelt today called
on Congress for an additional ma
tional defense program to cost
1852 100000. 1t would provide at
least 5000 new planes for the Army
and train 10000 pilots, with the
training directed "to the essential
qualifications for civilian flying"
Of the total appropriation asked,
$45O,0O0,OO0 was for the Army-of
which $500 100000 was for the addi-
tional planes-S65, 100000 for the
Navy, S1O,OOO,OOO for the training of
pilots, and S27,O00,000 for "imple-
menting of the existing defenses for
the Panama Canal"
The Commander in Chief OF the
Army and Navy, in his message to
Congress, described the new pro-
gram as "well-rounded." :"
minimum Program"
Devoid of all hysteria, this pro-
gram is but the minimum OF re-
Quirements," he said.
The Presidents tlons
for Increased air forces fell short
of earlier predictions from various
sources, which ran the number OF
planes up to 10000.
However, the increase in the air
forces asked in the message will
give this country strong defense
against any air attack that might
be launched by foreign nations.
Included in the Presidents pro-
posals for the Navy are S2l 100000
for additional planes. The Navy
already has a program looking to
5000 planes and strides are being
made toward that total
The completed program would
give the United States at least 5000
military and naval planes, provided
requirements for the old planes are
made and the new ones are not
used for such replacement of air
strength.
5000 Plane Increase.
Mr.. Roosevelt. in his message,
made no mention of the estimated
strength of the air forces of any of
the foreign nations. 1t has been
stated in official quarters, however,
that Germany has approximately
10000 and a capacity for producing
1000 new planes month.
OF the total amount allocated to
the Army in the new program,
$500, 100000 was proposed for pur-
chase of several types of airplanes.
This, the President said, should
provide minimum increase of 5000
planes, but it is hoped that orders
placed on such a large scale will
materially reduce the unit cost and
actually provide many more planes"
The President made no attempt
to link the national defense pro-
gram to recovery and re-employ-
ment. He pointed out that while
he asks for total of 1852, 100000, he
expects that not more han S210,-
100000 will be expended during he
coming fiscal year, though the rest
, may be contracted for, for the
Army, and Navy programs, and S.
OO0,0C5 for defenses in the Panama
Canal.
No Thought of Foreign War.
The Chief Executive asserted en-
phatically that the proposed new
defense program and the reasons
back of it do not remotely intimate
that the Congress or the President
have any thought of taking part in
another war on European soil"
The message called attention of
Congress and the country to the
fact that while the United States
entered the World War in April,
1917, no part was taken by Ameri-
can troops in any major engage
ment until the end of May, 1918.
This delay Mr.. Roosevelt pointed
out, was due to the fact the allied
nations carried on the fighting while
the United States had a year to
train its men and to produce the
needed arms and supplies to con-
duct military operations.
The President told Congress that