The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-01
ROOSEVELT ASKS
POWER TO CALL
NATIONAL GUARD
Continued from Page One)

tCOnElUucO lTOIIl L dSS oAANJ
declaring on the senate floor that
it was shocking"
'It sounds" he said, like a re-
quest for power to order at least
partial mobilization by executive
authority alone.
IF we are that close to an
emergency congress h a d better
stay in session and exercise Its
constitutional function with respect
to mobilization
Senators Wheeler D-Mont) and
Bridges GRIND agreed that con-
gress should stay on the Joo' but
Senator Minton (D-Ind) observed:
"If we have to use our regular
army to police adjacent S e S
that may come under u protec-
ton due to the events in Europe,
it can readily be seen that the
guard and the reserve would be
needed at home"
While the controversy ragged
among senate members, Secretary
Woodring announced that the wal
department had no intention OF
recommending at this time that
the guardsmen be summoned to
active duty.
Woodring's Statement
In a formal statement, Woodrlng
said the var department had rec
commended that the president re-
quest the authority. He added:
'It is not the intention of the
war department at this time to
recommend that the national
guard, wholly or partially, be call
ed into active service. AS a mat
ter of fact, the department is now
pressing arrangements to avoid
such a necessity.
But, should it later become nee
essary to call out the guard, the
initial purpose of such n
would be to permit the field tram
ing, seasoning and building up Of
the troops, such as is now being
given the regular army; all of this
to be accomplished against IN e
possibility Of a more serious emer-
ency. A minimum of several
months would be required for this
purpose"
This issue shared attention with
an announcement that the navy,
cancelling a voyage by LOO mid
shipmen to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
had rearranged their annual prac-
tice cruise to keep three battle
ships nearer home ports. Secre-
tary Edison disclosed thu the
cruise, starting June 8, would take
the training squadron to the New.
port, R. l., area instead of the
Brazilian capitol.
The cruise is to be made by the
flagship Texas and the Arkansas
and New York, the most powerful
ships of the Atlantic squadron.
4,30O, 0O0, 900 Program
The presidents recommends
tons would increase the current
arms program to more than $4,-
300, 900, 900. Besides laying empha-
sis on planes and other mechanical
equipment, which r playing such
a part in the incredible events
the president outlined a vast pro-
gram of expanding factories and
other military production facilities,
and of training "our people, and
especially our young people, for
employment in industry n d in
service in the army and navy
In line with reports that 1000, 600
person would be thus trained, he
told the legislators:
"It is imperative that we make
full and effective use of the mighty
capacities that lie in u popula-
ton"
General George c. Marshall,
army chief of staff, told a congress.
sional committee two weeks ago
that he believed mobilization OF
the guard should be avoided as
long as possible because it would
draw the men away from their
civilian jobs.
The president gave no specific
breakdown as to how the more
than a billion dollars would be
spent, leaving that to army and
navy officers and other officials
who are to appear before congress
sional committees. However, the
new program was reported auth
oritatively to total about $780,
600, 900, including outright appro'
priations and authorizations to en-
ter into contracts.
OF this, it was said, about $500,
600, 900 would go to the army, ano
$675, 900, 900 to the navy.
There we're indications that the
pending tax bill, designed to raise
some So, 600, 600, 900 in the next five
years for defense, might be in
creased in view of the presidents
message. Chairman Harrison Cd
Miss of the senate finance COM
mittee said tn message would
have to be considered'' in work
ing on the tax bill, although he
added that investigation m 6 h
show the revenue provided for in
the measure would not have to be
increased.
Secretary Of the Treasury Nor
genthau appeared before the house
ways and means committee to con-
tend that the public wanted to be
taxed for defense, and that both