Evening star., 1940-05-31
Roosevelt Calls
On Congress
To Speed Funds
Army and Navy
Mechunizution
Declared Urgent
(Tert OF Presidents Message
on Page Az
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

ny JO11IN " I1LVnXs
Warning grimly that all conti-
nents may become involved in q
worldwide war, President Roose-
velt asked Congress today to
speed enactment of a supple-
mental defense program involv-
ing more than s1,000,0o0,OoO.
Il believe that for national safety
the needs are urgent" Mr. Roosevelt
told Congress as he urged an extra
sum, bringing the years defense pro.
gram above the $4,000, 900 900 mark.
Describing military events in
Europe of the last two weeks as
almost Incredible the Chief Ex-
ecutive declared the Army and Navy
is in urgent need of special mechan.
lied materiel.
Production Needs Stressed.
In addition, Mr. Roosevelt stressed
the need of creating increased pro-
duction facilities, the necessity OF
an immediate training program
both for combat and non combat
services and acceptance of the "ob-
vious lesson" that speed is vital in
all present-day plans for war.
Apart from his recommendation
for financial expenditure, the Presi-
dent also asked for authority to call
into active service whenever neces.
sary the National Guard and Re.
serve personnel. At present, the
National Guard can be mustered
only at discretion of State Gov
ernors unless We should actually be
at war. =
Future Declared Dark.
mo individual, no group can
clearly foretell the future" Mr..
Roosevelt said. "As long, however,
as possibility exists that not one
continent or two continents. but all
continents, may become involved in
worldwide war reasonable precau.
ton demands that American defense
be made more certain"
Necessity for immediate action on
this supplemental program, whicn is
to be presented to the Congress in
more detail by War and Navy De.
partment officials, arises. Mr.. Roose.
velt said, out of a survey of manu-.
featuring resources since his last
message of May 16.
Over and beyond the acquisition
of the special mechanical weapons
Of today's warfare is the evident re.
quirement, Mr.. Roosevelt declared,
for the immediate creation of addi-
tional production facilities to meet
possible future emergencies as well
as present deficiencies in the
making of munitions, such as guns,
ammunition and fire control equip.
ment.
Gravity" Demands Speed.
These facilities require a long
time to create and to reach quantity
production. The increased gravity
of the situation indicates that &C.
ton should be taken without delay"
Remarking that 'indomitable de-
termination" no longer is sufficient
equipment for defense of our ma.
tional institutions and territorial In
tegrity, Mr.. Roosevelt emphasized
again that there must be high de-
velopment of our industrial produce
tive capacity
Need Skilled Workers. >
Turning to the matter of train.
ing, especially of young people, both
for employment in industry and for
service in the military branches, Mr..
Roosevelt said:
I'VE do not have trained
persons in the number that will be
required for the tasks that lie ahead
of us If our defense is to be assured.
We have, therefore, the task of
training large number in the skills
and semiskills required by modern
production in industry and by
highly mechanical defense force in
the Army and Navy" -
Value Of Speed Cited.
Without the full development Of
these skills," he added, 'our ma.
tional defense will be less than it
must be in the critical days which
lie ahead" oa...-
Value of speed in the present war
was cited by Mr.. Roosevelt as an
obvious lesson, with the added warm
ing that there is definite danger in
waiting to order the complete equip
ping and training of armies after .
war begins" "
In advising Congress that de.
partmental officials will submit
specific requests, Mr.. Roosevelt said
the plans already reviewed by him
call for immediate appropriation
to carry forward congressional de.
cisions in bills now pending, for inn
mediate added appropriations and
for contract authorizations. His gen.
eral observation that the total would
be more than 1000, ,0OO, 900 was his
only approach to specific figures.
Meanwhile, hastily acquainted
with the civil and industrial mobili-
zation responsibilities which are to
be theirs, the new National Defense
Commission began setting up its
Office organization and laying plans
for immediate operation. For two
hours the commission met with
President Roosevelt, the cabinet,
defense chiefs and legislative lead
ers at the White House yesterday
convening again later by them
selves. -z--.1'
To permit the President to make
last-minute revisions in his messags
(see ROOSEVELT, Page AID