Evening star., 1940-07-12
Defense
Continued From First Page.)

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to our ceiling for hours" He noted
also that Germany was on an
8-hour day, 48-hour- week basis from
1884 to the start of 1889, at which
time 60-hour week began in non
defense industries because of labor
shortage.
The administrator quoted from a
survey which said Inauguration of
the longer work week in production,
resulted in rapid decline in produc-
accompanied by such an alarm
ing increase of industrial accidents
and stoppages as to attract the
serious attention of the government
authorities"
$30,S70,0OO Contracts Let.
To help bolster Western defenses,
contracts totaling S30,870,000 were
let by the Navy for aviation facilities
in the Pacific, including Pearl Har-
bor and the Nations other island
possessions. In the East, one con-
tract alone provided s24,204, 900 for
aviation shore facilities at the Naval
Quonset Point Air Station in Rhode
Island.
Meanwhile, it was disclosed that
a formidable Army striking force
of some 5000 tanks-several hun
dred of them huge land battleships
is one major objective in President
Roosevelt's new $4,848,17l 957 pre-
paredness program.
Persons familiar with the plans
said the intention was to double the
total Of. 3,lOO tanks which now are
either in service, on order or cov-
cred by appropriation.
Only Germany, they said, pos
sesses a tank force of such potential
striking-~upuWE The projected
American equipment, they explained,
would include squadrons rivaling the
70-ton tanks which spearheaded vic
torious Nazi thrusts in Europe.
The recruiting drive now in prog
ress aims at building up the Regu-
lar Army to 100000 men by August
80. A 100000 force would include
National Guard units, now muster
ing more than 100000.
In this connection, it was said,
Congress eventually will be told that
the s4,000,0O0.000 already appro-
priated or asked for the Army is ST.
900 100000 short of the amount
needed to put 100000 fully equipped
men in the field. and provide arms
for an additional 100000 in reserve
Vast Contracts Placed.
The plans for tanks and troops
divided attention with these other
defense developments of yesterday:
Assistant Secretary of War john
son announced that munitions con-
tracts, totaling $3.50, ,OOO, 900, had been
placed since July l, but said it would
be year before the needs of an
expanding Army and National Guard
could be met.
The National Defense Commission
similarly reported $100, 100000 in air.
craft orders during the same period.
The eventual purchase of $4,000
warplanes is involved, and delivery
on the first planes is expected this
fall, the full order to be completed
in two years.
Congress sent to the White House
the "two-ocean" Navy bill, authoriz-
ing $4,600, ,000. 900 construction pro-
gram to increase the fleets combat
strength by 10 per cent.
President Roosevelt also received
legislation appropriating $4,000, 900
to set up, if necessary. a Govern
ment-underwritten system of war
risk insurance for American mari
time commerce.
$4,000, 900 Approved for T. v. A.
The Senate Appropriations Com
mittee approved an appropriation Of
$25 100000 for further development
of power resources in the Tennessee
Valley area. The fund, it was ex-
planned, was necessary to speed pro-
duction of defense materials, par
ticularly aluminium for airplanes.
Chairman Vinson of the House
Naval Committee introduced legis-
1ation authorizing the Navy to pro-
ceed with $250,000,O0 housing pro-
gram for naval personnel and civ
ilians engaged in national defense
work.
The measure also would authorize
creation of a new Marine Corps base
and $15,000,00O expansion of naval
training facilities. Although no site
has been selected for the Marine
base, Mr.. Vinson said it should be
located at Guantanamo. Cuba,
where the Navy contemplates basing
a sea-goirg version of Germany's
hard-hitting "Panzer" divisions.
Senator Holt, Democrat, of West
Virginia told the Senate that per-
sons who helped pay for a newspaper
advertisement entitled stop Hitler
Now" included those who were
"proflt.ng" from the European war
and wanted American boys to pro-
tect their investment"
He named bankers, industrialists
and motion picture stars as among
the contributors.
r.. F. C.. Announces Four Loans.
Jesse H. Jones, Federal Loan Ad-
ministrator, told reporters that the
r. F. G. had made four loans aggre-
eating $4,000, 900 to private indus
try in connection with the defense
program.
He did not identity the companies,
but said q loan to the Packard Mo-
tor Co. was under consideration.