The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-12

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 On leaving the training station. MT. Roosevelt expressed himself as we'll satisfied with progress here on the defense program. Production at the torpedo plant, where 4,100 men are working around the clock, is well up to schedule, he said.
 The main point is to keep it run- ming, MT. Roosevelt declared. When another 1000 men have been added to production personnel, the plant will meet all requirements, he added.
 The president, during his brief visit here, issued orders to recom- mission the frigate Constellation. Lieut.. John Davidson, retired, in command of the old vessel, told the president that its recommiSsioning was his fondest wish.
 Explaining that recommissioning of such a vessel largely was fiction, MT. Roosevelt summoned his naval aide Capt. Daniel J. Callighan and ordered him to take the necessary steps to permit Davidson to hoist the commission pennant.
 His Second Visit
 It was the presidents second visit here, and the first official call of a president since Theodore Roosevelt.
 In 1917, as assistant secretary of the navy, MT. Roosevelt inspected the base on a check-up of World war expansion of naval training | facilities.
 After reviewing the recruit regi- ment, the president was driven back to the wharf where his small boat was tied up. AS he reboarded the boat, bluejackets aboard the Con- stellation hauled down the presi- dential flag and the shore battery again began to roar out the 21-gun salute.
 Boarding his yacht, MT. Roosevelt cruised leisurely down Narragansett bay toward New London. Enroute down the bay, MT. Roosevelt looked over the site of the projected Quon- sett point air station, but did not go ashore.
 At New London Besa
 At the naval bases here at New London, Conn.,, MT. Roosevelt will give his approval to plans to in- crease submarine building to full plant capacity.
 After a week end at sea aboard the Yacht Potomac, MT. Roosevelt docks here this morning. He will be accompanied by Secretary of Navy Frank Knox on the inspection tours. Secretary of Commerce Harry L. Hopkins accompanied him aboard the yacht, but was not expected to make the inspection tours.
 Speeds Over Bases
 In quick succession, MT Roose- welt will visit the Newport Torepdo manufacturing plant, war college and naval training station, the site of the projected $8,000,o00 north- eastern air base at Quonsett Point, R. l., the naval submarine base at New London and the submarine manufacturing plant of the Electric Boat Co.,, at New London.
 The inspection af the site of the projected Quonsett base indicated MT. Roosevelt's interest in bolster ing the aerial defenses of the north east. It was understood that he had discussed the base during the course with Chairman David I. Walsh, D., Mass, of the Senate naval affairs committee.
 Walsh met the president Satur- day at Portsmouth, N. H., and ac- companied him on inspections ot the Portsmouth Navy Yard, the Boston Navy Yard and the Army's big gun arsenal at Watertown, Mass.
 Ignores Politics
 Although in politically doubtful New England. MT. Roosevelt was ig- noring the political implications on his trip. In New Hampshire and Massachusetts he refrained from political utterances although he constantly was surrounded by crowds and was seen by near:y 100000 per- sons.
 MT. Roosevelt, in a press confer ence which followed his inspection of the watertown arsenal. called for a truce on politics. His inspection of the Boston area apparently was cal- culated to avoid any party demon- strations. Massachusetts Young Democrats were meeting in Boston but the president made no contact with the convention and the route of his entourage to Watertown was through suburbs where only small crowds would ke gathered,
 MT. Roosevelt was informed that group of workers at the Electric Boat Company at New London planned to present him a petition protesting the company's dealings with firms involved in national la- bor board litigation. The president replied that they could present the petition if they chose and that it would be considered.
 Looking over the naval station es- l tablishment. he said the scenes were a.MraaAaaAa0nN4k al Aansa lea 904E