Evening star., 1940-05-31

message to Congress asking a sup
defense appropriation fol-
oWS.
The almost incredible events of
the past two weeks in the Eu-
ropean conflict, particularly as a
result of the use of aviation and
mechanical equipment, together
with the possible consequences of
further developments. necessitate
another enlargement of our mill
tary program.
No individual, no group can
clearly foretell the future. AS
long, however, as a possibility
exists that not one continent or
two continents but all continents
may become involved in a world
wide war. reasonable precaution
demands that American defense
be made more certain.
An investigation into manu-
featuring resources since my
message of May 16, to determine
the practicability of placing ad-
ditional orders with industry for
special material, both to provide
an early expansion Of existing
production facilities and to OBJ
tain increased quantities Of the
special weapons concerned, has
caused the War and Navy De-
partments to submit to me an
urgent and new recommendation
that increased appropriations
and authorizations for the ma
tional defense be made before
the adjournment Of the present
Congress.
Machinery of Industry
Required for Defense.
Over and beyond the acquisi-
tion Of this actual material is the
evident requirement for the i'm
mediate creation of additional
production facilities to meet pos
sible future emergencies as well
as present deficiencies in the
making Of munitions, such as
guns, ammunition and hre-con-
troll equipment. These facilities
require long time to create and
to reach quantity production.
The increased gravity Of the situ-
alton indicates that action should
be taken without delay.
The problem of defending our
national institutions and terri
torial integrity is no longer a
problem for men equipped simply
with an indomitable determina-
ton. Modern defense requires
that this determination be sup
ported by the highly developed
machinery of our industrial pro-
ductive capacity.
The expansion of our defense
program makes it necessary that
we undertake Immediately the
training and retraining of our
people, and especially our young
people, for employment in indus
try and in service in the Army
and Navy.
Must Take Up Task
OF Training Personnel.
The requirements of industry
and the expanded armed forces
for persons with experience in
mechanical and manual fields are
obviously going to be great. We
do not have such trained persons
in the number that will be re-
quired for the tasks that lie
ahead of us If our defense is to
be assured. We have, therefore,
the task Of training large num-
Der in the skills and semi-skills
required by modern production in
industry and by highly mech
anized defense force in the Army
and Navy. A primary consider
alton in the training of skills
must be, not the existing distri-
button of workers among skilled
fields, but the distribution that
would be required If our indus
trial machine and our defensive
forces were fully modified.
In the national effort for de-
fense upon which we are now
engaged, it is imperative that we
make full and effective use of the
mighty capacities that lie in our
population. Here as yet unde-
veloped lie the ability and the
strength needed in the building
up of our ornaments to provide
a sure industrial foundation for
the meeting of any and all de-
tense requirements. Without the
full development of these skills
our national defense will be less
than it must be in the critical
days which lie ahead. Without
the full contribution of our peo-
pie our defense cannot attain the
invulnerability which the Nation
demands and which we are de-
termined it shall have.
The one most obvious lesson of
the present war in Europe is the
value of the factor of speed.
There Is definite danger in watt
ing to order the complete equip
ping and training Of armies after
q war begins.
Authority to Call Out
National Guard Asked.
Therefore, suggest the speedy
enlargement OF the program for
equipping and training in the
light Of our defense needs.
I have instructed the repre-
sentatives of the War and Navy
Departments and also the repre-
sentatives of the several agencies
dealing with the training Of young
men for non-combatant services
to make available to the ap-
propriate committees Of the Con-
gress the plans and proposal.
which they have laid before me.
These plans call for immediate
appropriation to carry forward
n