Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-01-31

AAAS SSAAheS &APPASPA AUS3O&1o
Committee reported out the
s1,138 sos, 900 independent Offices
bill this afternoon after adding
$38,5O0,000 to the House total.
BY the Associated Press.
The House Naval Affairs Com
mittee tentatively approved today a
two-year building program, to cost
approximately $685., 100000.
The revamped program, described
by Chairman Vnson as "all the Navy
can build in two years." would au-
thorize construction of 81 additional
warships, % auxiliary vessels and
boost the Nays minimum air
strength to $500 planes.
When the feet expansion program
first was presented it called for
eventual appropriation of $1,000, 000,-
900 to provide for II warships and
the same number of aircraft and
auxiliaries.
The committee adopted an
amendment giving the Navy specific
authority to provide additional ship.
building ways and docks at the Nor
folk, Va; Philadelphia and Ports.
mouth, N. H., navy yards. if neces-
sary to carry out the program. 1t
refused, however, to include the
Bremerton, Wash, and Mare Island,
Calf, navy yards despite vigorous
fight by Representatives Magnuson,
Democrat, of Washington, and
Havenner, Democrat, of California.
The group also Overwhelmingly
rejected a proposal by Represent
alive Mas of Minnesota, senior
minority member, to authorize the
Navy to lend navy yard equipment
to private shipbuilders in the inter-
est of expediting the program.
Army Doesn't Want Men.
The Army, sidetracking proposals
for increasing it's manpower, is going
to concentrate or completing sea-
coast defenses, establishing a ma
tional afraid warning system, and
getting additional modern equip
ment for its troops.
Members OF the House Military
Affairs Committee said that Gen.
George C. Marshall, Army Chief Of
Staff. told them yesterday $40
600 900 item, chiefly for creation Of
an AFRAID warning system, was Of
the first priority" among Army
needs
Details of the system were with
held, but members said it would in
clude radio set-up and sirens.
Testifying behind closed doors,
Gen. Marshall told the committee,
members said, that the Army want
ed $500, 0O0, COO for construction and
completion of seacoast defenses and
$240, 100000 for so-called critical"
equipment needs. One committee
man said that all of these funds
would be sought in the forthcoming
War Department appropriation bill.
Army Increase Opposed.
Committee members said Gen.
Marshall told them he was opposed
to increasing the Army and Ma
tional Guard beyond 100000 men at
this time, although there has been
talk of recruiting both forces to
their authorized strength of 100000.
The Regular Army now has about
227 900 enlisted men. and the Ma
tional Guard about 265 1000.
Gen Marshall was quoted as say
ing he might ask funds for an ad-
dltional $4,000 men to fill out GER
tain units to provide six Regular
Army divisions, exclusive of troops in
Panama and in territorial posses
sions.
Although Secretary Edison told
the House Naval Committee
yesterday that a Is per cent
increase in the Navy, costing
about $1,000 100000 was neces-
sary to give the United States "a
fair degree of security" against pos
sible combinations of foes, Chair
man Vinson held out for the smaller
program as "all the Navy can handle
in two years.
The committee served notice that
it would not act finally on the
legislation until it gets formal ap-
proval from President Roosevelt.
but Representative Vinson said the
revamped measure was on the Chief
Executives desk.