Evening star., 1940-05-16

ours are equal to, or better than
the vessels of any foreign power.
The Army likewise is at its
greatest peacetime strength. Its
equipment in quality and quantity
has been greatly increased and
improved.
The National Guard and the
reserve strength Of the two serv-
Ices are better equipped and bet
ter prepared than during any
other peace-time period.
On the other side of the picture
we must visualize the outstanding
fact that since the first day of
September, 1899, every week that
has passed has brought new les
sons learned from actual combat
on land and sea.
I cite examples. Where naval
ships have operated without ade-
quate protection by defending
aircraft their vulnerability to air
attack has increased. All nations
are hard at work studying the
need Of additional anti-aircraft
protection.
Several months ago the use Of
a new type Of magnetic mine
made many unthinking people
believe that all surface ships were
doomed. Within a few weeks
a successful defensive device
against these mines was placed in
operation: and it is a fact that
the sinkings of merchant ships
by torpedo, by mine or by air.
plane are definitely much lower
than during the similar period in
1915.
Airplane Of Year Ago
Now Is Out Of Date.
Combat conditions have changed
even more rapidly in the air.
With the amazing progress in the
design Of planes and engines, the
airplane of a year ago is out-of-
date now. It is too slow. it is
improperly protected, it is too
weak IN gun power. ..
In types Of planes we are not
behind the other nations of the
world. Many of the planes of the
belligerent powers are at this mo-
ment not of the latest models.
But one belligerent power not
only has many more planes than
all their opponents combined, but
also appears to have a weekly
production capacity at the mo-
ment that is far greater than that
Of their opponents.
From the point of view of our
own defense, therefore, great ad-
ditional production capacity is
our principal air requisite.
For the permanent record,
ask the Congress not to take any
action which would in any way
hamper or delay the delivery Of
American-made planes to foreign
nations which have ordered them,
or seek to purchase more planes.
That, from the point of view of
our own national defense, would
be extremely shortsighted.
During the past year American
production capacity for war
planes, including engines, has
risen from approximately 5000
planes year to more than dou-
bic that number, due in greater
part to the placing of foreign Or
ders.
Our immediate problem is to
superimpose on this production
capacity q greatly increased addi-
tional production capacity. I
should like to see this Nation
geared up to the ability to turn
out at least $4,000 planes a year.
Furthermore, I believe that this
Nation should plan at this time
a program that would provide us
with $4,000 military and naval
planes.
The ground forces Of the Army
require the immediate speeding
up of lost winters program to
procure equipment of all kinds,
including motor transport and
artillery. including anti-aircraft
guns and full ammunition sup
plies. It had been planned to
spread these requirements over
the next three or four years. We
should fill them at once.
Appropriations Sought
For Four Primary Purposes.
At this time am asking the
immediate appropriation by the
Congress Of large sum of money
for four primary purposes:
First, to procure the essential
equipment of all kinds for q
larger and thoroughly rounded
out Army.
Second, to replace or modernize
all old Army and Navy equipment
with the latest type Of equipment.
Third. to increase production
facilities for everything needed
for the Army and Navy for ma
tional defense. We require the
ability to turn out quickly in
hnitely greater supplies.
Fourth, to speed up to q 24-hour
basis all existing Army and Navy
contracts. and all new contracts
to be awarded.
I ask for an immediate ap-
preparation Of $896, ,000, 900, di-
vided approximately as follows:
l. For the Army, $546, 900 900.
2. For the Navy and Marine
Corps, $3.50, 900 900.
3. To the President to provide
for emergencies affecting the ma
tional security and defense, $780,.
000, 900.
In addition to the above sum,
I ask for authorizations for the
Army, Navy and Marine Corps
to make contract obligations In