The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-31
Arrny,Aira and Navy Get
 Boost
BY MACK JOHNSON
Limited Press Staff Correspondent

Limited Press Staff COrreSpOnuenI Washington, Dec. 31 - (UP) - Shocked by the grim lessons of the European war, the United States ill 194O conscripted its youths for mil itary training for the first time ln peacetime history, and rushed bulld- ing of the largest navy and air force in the world
 Congress allotted SIS, ,106, ,227 ,930 to bolster defenses and President Roosevelt called top-flight indus trialists to Washington to work With army, navy and other governmental officials to expedite the rearming of this nation to defend itself and the western hemisphere from totalitar- ian aggression.
 A two-ocean navy bill, boosting the fleet by 70 per cent, was en- atced: a major start was made to- ward army and navy air forces. to- taling 50,000 war planes, and 17,OOO,- 900 young men from q to 36 regis tered so that 9O0,O00 of them may be called annually for one years mill tary service as the means ot pro- viding minimum army of l,40O,- OO0 men, plus trained reserves ot A. 100000 more.
 The race to rearm began in May when German troops swept into the Low Countries, and President Roose- welt gravely read to Congress the first of his extraordinary defense messages which were to start this nation on an arms program which will cost minimum of $17,0O0,00O,- GOO In the next two years.
 Billions Quickly Voted
 The goals were set by Congress, and contracts totaling billions quick ly were made. Army and navy cen sorship, however. prevents disclosure of precise progress in the drive to rear:n. Officials refuse to say. for example, how many of the approx imately 25,0CO airplanes "on hand and on order actually have been delivered. Defense Commissioner William S. Knudsen, in charge ot production recently revealed how ever, that plane production for the United States and Great Britain was running 30 per cent below the 1000 planes month goal estao- lished for January.
 The swift, relentless progress of German panzer divisions aided by thousands of airplanes caused the U. s. armed forces to change their tech nique and place greater emphasis on mechanized troops.
 During the year, the regular army was increased from 228,800 officers and men to 404,00O; and the navy commissioned 19 new destroyers, six submarines and one aircraft carrier. Fifty average destroyers were trad ed to Great Britain for six naval bases on British possessions in the western hemisphere, and total ot "A old destroyers were being used by the navy. Thirty-six average sub marines also were recommlssioneo.
 U. s. Navy First
 By the years end, the U. s. Navy was the largest, and officers believed it already was the most effective, in the world. Its status was:
 Under Over Build
 Type Age Age ing Total Battleships 12 3 l7 32 Aircraft
 Carriers 6 0 12 18 Destroyers 85 "A 166 325 Submarines 36 68 81 1855
 Navy personnel increased from i34,892 to 196,O00 officers and men during the year. while the total of Marine Corps officers and enlisted men jumped from 24,035 to 49,643 Defense commission experts and private shipbuilders had worked oui speed up" plan to rush compile ton of warships now on the ways They estimated that the building time of a cruiser had been reduced from 40 to as low as 35 months, ano the time for constructing submarines had been cut from 30 to "A months.
 Mere than half of the 250,000 Ma tional Guardsmen were called into < federal service for a years intensive training.
 Air Strength Secret
 Although officials declined to re- veal specific figures, it-was believed N that the army air corps late in De- cember had more than 5000 war planes, and that navy air strength was around 1900 '.first line" planes The army's present program calls fol an airforce of 25,000 planes by July 1, 1942, and the navy has contracted for e,200 planes by June, 19Al.
 Industry was mobilized to rusf tanks, planes, guns and other i'm clements of warfare and the govern ment was accorded far-reachinl powers to take over. on 8 renta basis, industries which refused t' cooperate in the defense program. /, The national defense advisor! commission supervise the rush ts rearm. Its members are:
 William S. Knudsen. former pres ldent of General Motors Corpora ton. production.
 Edward R. stettinius, Jr., fornel chairman Of the Q. 8. Steel Corpo' rntlon. raw materials.
 Sidney Iflllman, presldent Of tn Nna Iaansat6a Clothing Workers. ln'