Evening star., 1940-10-27
Fleet Bars Dictators
From Hemisphere,
Roosevelt Warns
President Luuds Aid
Of U. S. Industry in
Navy Day Statement
BY FRED H. MORRART, Jr.


their efforts in every conceivable
manner, to the end that our fleet
shall be a deterrent to those ma
tions who would plant the heel of
dictatorship across this hemisphere. :"
The statement came in a letter
to Secretary Knox on the 10Th an
nual Navy Day celebration spon-
sored by the Navy League of the
United States.
The President pointed out that
the national defense program
REACHES into the home of every one
of our citizens" as he congratulated
Navy and Marine personnel for
their attainment of high standards
Of efficiency.
Along with the Chief Executives
letter there was an exchange OF
communications between the Army
and the Navy emphasizing the CO.
operation between land and sea
forces.
Exchange of Letters.
In reply to Secretary. of War
Stimson, who lauded the Navy's
present high state of preparedness"
Mr.. Knox replied that the 'co-ordi-
mated effort in building the national
defense will insure our countrymen
against any and all attacks upon
their freedom"
Gen. George c. Marshall, Army
chief of staff, wrote Admiral Harold
r. Stark, chief of naval operations,
that "in these critical days and
especially during the period of ex-
pansion and rearmament of the
military forces, the state or readi-
ness of the Navy to fulfill its role
in the defense of the country is a
source of great satisfaction and as
surance to the Army
To this, Admiral Stark said "our
unity of purpose in defense plans
Is source of tremendous strength
to the Nation. A deep sense of trust
and responsibility to their country
permeates both services
Text of Presidents Letter.
The text of the Presidents letter
follows:
My dear Mr.. Secretary:
This year, with the flames of war
raging in nations across the Atlantic
and Pacific, Navy Day is very close
to the hearts of the American peo-
Pile. For them and for myself, I
wish on this occasion to assure you
OF our utmost faith and pride in the
ability and integrity of the per-
sonnel of the Navy and Marine
Corps.
Officers and men of the naval
service have carried on splendidly
IN fair weather and foul Their de-
votlon to duty. their spirited en-
deavor to keep the Navy strong. is
an inspiration to those who hold this
countrys welfare above self.
There has been a recurrent ten
dency throughout our history to
overlook the Navy and its needs,
particularly after a war. We have
been correcting this in the last few
years. Now, faced with the fact
that this Nation is entering new,
rapidly changing and unpredictable
world conditions, we are embarked
on national defense program that
reaches into the home of every one
OF our citizens.
I know from personal observa-
ton, as do you, that industry and
our naval establishment today are
co-ordinating their efforts in every
conceivable manner, to the end that
our fleet shall be a deterrent to
those nations who would plant the
heel of dictatorship across the
hemisphere.
I take this opportunity to con-
gratulate you and your great organ
ization on these efforts. 1 have the
greatest confidence in the Navy. It's
thoughts are directed towards sue
ceSSful prosecution of war. should
war unfortunately come. and it con-
etantly strives to be a guardian of
our craftsmanship
pray that it will continue to en-
phaSize, by its strength, our deter
mination to remain a free people,
marching steadily along the open
road that holds peace of the spirit
as we'll as full and worthy mate
rial life. Very sincerely yours.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
431 Vessels for Fleet.
Latest figures on the United
States Navy show there are 324
combatant vessels and 20 naval aux
iliary ships under construction. In
addition, since 1884 the Navy has
commissioned 70 combatant and
8 auxiliary ships, to bring the
total in all classes to 431 vessels for
the fleet.
Figures show that of the 431 YES
sells, 135 fighters were authorized in
1884 and three years later Congress
voted construction of six auxiliaries.
Three of the auxiliaries have been
put in commission.
Two years ago At fleet units and
l9 auxiliaries were ordered built. Of
these, five auxiliaries have been
placed in service. Under the II per
cent feet expansion bill passed this
year, % fighting units and two aux
iliarieS were authorized. Later, un-
der the 10 per cent enlargement
program, one auxiliary and 1893 COM
bat vessels were ordered.
The augmentations to the fleet
are being constructed in private and
Navy yards under departmental
contract. Many of the private con-
tracts were negotiated on a cost
plus fixed fee basis Contracts for
the 200 ships contained in the sup
Elemental expansion bill were let
within "a hours after the President
signed the bill.
Must Watch Two Oceans.
Faced today with one of the
eravest international situations in
its history, the Navy has dual task
Of forming strong guard in the
Pacific while remaining on the alert
for troubles in the Atlantic.
Bound by treaty limitations since
the Washington Disarmament Con-
ferpnce of 1922. only in recent wears