The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-11-16
BEHIND The

war and navy departments are OPP
Grating on . war basis. The motto
IL: Preparedness at home"
Mobilization Of United States In
dustry Is well under way. Some
factories already hold sealed pro-
visional orders for war supplies.
The administration Is well aware
Of what Is going on. The move Is
approved. With prospects for a
letdown In business activity during
the first few months Of 1910, the
war-preparedness program will be
pushed.
There win be new pump
printing when the slump de-
velops. IL win Be recovery
through ornaments. Billions
win be spent for munitions
and war equipment.
The assumption has been that
the country Is protected from for
eign attack because OF the oceans
and two friendly nations. Huge
funds for national defense were
regarded as unnecessary. But now
there's = change of opinion.
wit the cooperation Of military
men, the administration II turn
ing sentiment the other way. This
win be evident during the nex'
session Of congress.
The problem Of whether con-
gressmen win favor huge appropri-
ations for war supplies isn't hard
one. The aim Of military minds
and the administration, IL to make
the public demand It. That vii
be accomplished by words Of feal
that Japan. Russia and Nazi Ger
many are threatening and may In
wade our peaceful land.
With war raging In Europe snt
Asia. the public Is expected t.
swallow the bait. hook. line ant
sinker. Congress win be forces
to act.
Here's the tip-off; President
Roosevelt n already intimat-
ing sly moves on the part OF
Russia. Ambassador Grew In
telling the Japs where they
ret off. Our main fleet In now
In the Pacific and not on the
Atlantic, ~ 10 was six months
ago.
Some people say the new nation
al defense program will total 81,
SOC, 900 900. The better INFORMED
say Il win run to the tune OF 81.
0o0. 10000. This viii compar'
with q s1,et5,s41.o15 sppropria
ton for 1889 and s1,oo6. 267, oo
spent during 1888.
The army and marine corps WI
be voted close to $4,000. 0oo. ooe
The navy win get another $3.50,
00o. 900. All departments Of tn
government having secret servic
branches will be voted specis
funds for additional arms an
munitions.
The war department already IA
full plans. They were prepared q
q result OF six years work. Benin
closed doors, Assistant Secretar
L OF War Louis johnson IL constant
1 y holding private discussions wit
more than so liaison officers. Fac
man has made q thorough study
the industries In the territory a
signed to him.
In wartime. industry must
produce some 10000 items.
There are only about 50 items
that Industrial activity can't
produce Immediately. These In
clude automatic pistols, ma
chine guns, bomb fuses and
mechanisms for artillery range
finders. But this difficulty h
being overcome.
The war department Is placir
educational orders" for the Wit
; 50 products. The purpose IL
/, train certain factories for ma
: production. About s5.ooo.o 1000
= such orders have been placed. r
> educational orders" win contin
!. being placed through the comb
: years. Factories accept them on
. non-profit basis.
; Washington grapevine Is III
l there's no fear OF the French a
British war orders wrecking {
United States defense plans. T
e business Is liked. II swings doms
Il tic plants into the manufacture
n OF war equipment II is sincere
. hoped the Allies viii furnish fun
Il for American firms to build ad
d tionsl plants for the production
. airplsne engines. There's . sho
age in that war item.