Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-07-10
Plea for Five Billion
For Arms Bars II. S.
Entryin Foreign War
Roosevelt Seeks
To Equip Army
OF 1000,
(Tert OF Presidents Message
on Page Az
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

Pledging that American arms will
not be used in a war of aggression
nor Americans sent TO European
battlefields, President Roosevelt to-
day asked Congress for an additional
s4,848,17l,957 for national defense.
Of this total s2,161, AL. 957 would
be spent between now and July /,
l94l, with the remainder being in
the form of contract authorizations.
In detailing the immediate OBJ
Jectives of this latest addition to the
Nations defensive mobilization the
President itemized as follows:
/. To carry forward the naval
expansion program designed to build
up the Navy to meet any possible
combination of hostile naval forces.
2. To complete the total equip
ment for land force of approx
mately 100000 men; though, of
course, this total of men would not
be in the Army in time of peace.
IOtdl OF E,UUU,UUU.
3. To procure reserve stocks of
tanks, guns, artillery. ammunition.
etc, for another 300, 900 men, or a
total of 100000 men if a mobiliza-
ton of such force should become
necessary.
4. To provide for manufacturing
facilities, public and private, neces-
sary to produce critical items of
equipment required for a land force
OF 100000 men and to produce
the ordnance items required for
the aircraft program of the Army
and Navy-guns, bombs. armor,
bombslghts and ammunition.
5. Procurement of $4,000 addi-
tional planes for the Army and
1000 for the Navy, complete with
necessary spare engines, ornaments
and the most modern equipment.
Mr.. sRoosevelt's request brought to
approximately $4,000 900 900 the
funds and contract authorizati tons
asked this session for land. sea and
air ornaments. Previously the
President had asked and the Con-
gress voted about $4,000 0O0, 900 in
the two categories.
Hope for Plane Output Speed.
1t was estimated by War Depart
ment officials that provisions of the
new program dealing with Army air
strength would bring the total of
Army planes in service by October
/, 194l to 24.591. AS a matter of
fact, the War Department spokes-
man said, it is the hope and de-
termination of production chieftains
of the National Defense Commission
10 speed up the plane output by 90
days.
Reporting that excellent prog
ress' is being made for the procure
ment OF equipment already ordered,
Mr.. Roosevelt pointed out that Con-
gress already is considering enact
ment of a system of "selective
training" to provide the necessary
qualified man power.
In this way" he remarked, I'VE
can make certain that when this
modern materiel becomes available
1t Will be placed in the hands of
troops trained, seasoned and ready.
and that replacement materiel can
be guaranteed.
Once again Mr.. Roosevelt spoke
with bitter Scorn of those who saw
openly or even hint that this Nation
is incapable of defense. Those cir
culatlng such preachments he de-
scribed as "apologists for despotism"
aided by whisperings of defeatism
or appeasement.
Threats Increased.
I'VE will repel aggression against
the United States or the Western
Hemisphere, he wrote boldly. THE
people and their Representatives in
the Congress know that the threats
TO OUR liberties, the threats to our
security, the threats against our way
of life, the threats to our institu-
tons of religion, of democracy, and
OF international good faith, have
increased in number and gravity
from month to month, from week to
week, and almost from day to day"
Because of all these, he added,
and most of all because of the
united will of the entire American
people" the present program is be-
ing requested. Repeatedly, Mr..
Roosevelt referred to the unified
spirit of the American people in
their devotion and determination to
protect our traditional liberties.
Their joint effort, as demonstrated
on other occasions, he said, "can
bring together the greatest as
sembly of human skills, of mechan-
ical production, and of national re-
sources, ever known in any Nation"
That this Government has been
taking careful heed of the tempo
of today's warfare was assured by
Mr.. Roosevelt more than once in
his message.
Abreast of Developments.
1--WE are keeping abreast of de-
velopments in strategy, tactics and
(See DEFENSE, Page A-1o0