Evening star., 1940-01-02
$450,o00,00o Army
Procurement Record
Cited in Report
Johnson Points to
Delivery Of 736 New
Planes and 1,047 Ordered

uouISS WIN sgS
In an unprecedented peacetime
expansion of the countrys air force.
the Army accepted delivery on 7S6
new airplanes and placed orders
for Loaf others during the 1899
fiscal year. Assistant Secretary OF
War Louis johnson said today in
his annual report.
The purchases, totaling more than
1000, 900, formed a large part OF
record peacetime procurement ex-
penditures of $3.50 900 900 during
the year. Aside from airplanes, Mr..
johnson said progress was made
In supplying the needs Of other
branches of the expanding Army
The report disclosed that marked
attention was given during the year
on building up the country's de-
fenses against air attack, aside
from planes Mr.. johnson reported
a 400 per cent increase in the num-
ber of sound locators for anti
aircraft fire: a 210 per cent in
crease in 3-inch anti-aircraft guns
and carriages; 100 per cent in
crease in directors for anti-aircraft
fire control, and 140 per cent in
crease in anti-aircraft machine
guns.
Infantry's BEST Gun" Increased.
Procurements for the infantry
were marked by l40 per cent in
crease in the semi-automatic rifles,
regarded as the best gun Of in
fantry type in the world. Mr..
johnson also reported Is per cert
increase in trench mortars and
scout cars and said contracts have
been placed for the first time for
quantity purchases of anti-tank
guns and 37-millimeter anti-air-
craft mounts. Orders also were
placed for $4,000, 900 worth of as
sorted types of ammunition and
more than 100000 were used to
buy war reserve machinery.
Mr.. Johnson's report marked the
first detailed statement of progress
on the $500, ,000, 900 Air Corps expan-
sion program authorized last year,
and intended to give this country
5000 planes by l941 With $500 ad-
ditional planes ordered during the
first part of the 1941 fiscal year, Mr..
johnson said the program will be
completed on schedule.
Planes purchased during the year,
Mr.. johnson said, included all types,
two and four engine bombers, pur-
suit, observation, Photographic,
basic combat and commercial type
training planes The orders were
distributed among IL plane manu-
facturers and S engine manufac-
turers.
Competitive Bidding Prevails.
Notwithstanding the increased
procurement load that has been
placed on every supply arm and
service" Mr.. Johnson said, "pur-
chases have continued to be made
with careful regard to economy,
efficiency and impartiality. Pro-
curement in general has continued
to be made after competitive bid
ding, by sealed bids, and with equal
consideration and with opportunity
to all.
Every effort has been concen-
trated in carrying on the primary
mission of procurement, namely, the
supplying of the Army with what it
needs, at the time and place needed,
and within the funds appropriated
by the Congress for that purpose. !"
The War Departments program
for educational orders to train pri-
vate industry in the manufacture
of essential war materials was vastly
enlarged during the year, with $32,-
100000 made available by Congress
for this purpose, Mr.. johnson said
II regard this feature of our pro-
gram as significant milestone in
our quest for adequate industrial
preparedness" he added. "A civilian
industry trained to produce our
needs in an emergency, will save us
from great sacrifices in treasure
and, what is more important, pre-
cious lives-the lives of American
young men that no money can buy"
Price Control Problem Studied.
The report disclosed that the War
Department had continued its
studies of economic mobilization for
war. Attention, among other things,
was given to the problem of price
control to avoid unnecessary cost
of Government purchases and rises
in the cost of living"
Mr.. johnson said that at his re-
quest the Brookings Institution has
been engaged for several months
in the study of bases upon which
price regulation can be started sue
cessfully. The Federal Trade Com
mission is cooperating in the work,
he added.
II am convinced" he concluded,
"that our Nation, awakening to
realities, is coming to a much
clearer and certainly more definite
understanding of the close associa-
tion of military and economic fac
tors. If the requests for informa-
ton by industry upon my Office may
be taken as criterion, then I am
confident that national interest in
our problems is avid. keen and in
telligent.
considerable progress has been
made toward the attainment of our
objectives-current procurement of
our peacetime requirements and the