Evening star., 1940-06-07

fast action-the authority to turn
in guns to manufacturers.
''NO Worry" on Bomb Sights.
Asked whether confidential equip
ment-such as bomb sights-Would
be removed from planes turned back
to manufacturers, the President
said he didn't think there need be
any worry on that score.
Mr.. Roosevelt said he was too
busy considering such matters as
/ tin. manganese and rubber to give
any attention to reports that
changes in the cabinet were immi-
nent.
The SO Navy planes turned back
to Curtiss- Wright today were con-
centrated at Buffalo, conveniently
close to the Canadian border for i'm
mediate delivery to British author
tiles.
Navy Department orders for re-
turn of the surplus planes-most
of them dive bombers-came late
yesterday, shortly after Mr.. Roose-
welt had conferred with the De-
fense Commission and only a few
hours after receipt of urgent appeals
from United States ENJOYS in London
and Paris that American military
supplies be speeded to the Allies.
COnferees Won't Talk.
While the Defense Commission
has no precise jurisdiction over
policy with regard to sales of military
equipment abroad, it has a direct
interest in so far as production is
concerned. both for domestic and
foreign demand.
At the conclusion of their White
House meeting commission members
declined to discuss the business
of the day, but one member. Leon
Henderson. told reporters it was
pretty evident there will be some
action"
Actually. the Navy airplane deal
consisted of a trade in of the ships
to the Curtiss company. their man.
ufacturer, for a more advanced type
to be equipped with leak-proof
gasoline tanks and heavier armor.
Furthermore, the Navy said
"these airplanes are temporarily in
excess of requirements due to the
fact that many of the Reserve avla-
tors normally attached to the Re-
serve squadron have been ordered
to Pensacola as instructors on ac-
count of the large expansion OF
training at that place. 1t is ex-
pected that the remainder of these
planes at Reserve bases will be SIM
ilarly turned In as requirements
are received"
Thirty Planes Reach Buffalo.
Still in the category of modern
ships, 80 of the planes had reached
Buffalo last night, the Associated
Press reported, with the remainder
expected today. Several were flown
in from Anacostia with the rest
coming from naval reserve bases
scattered throughout the country.
Wright officials were
quoted by the Associated Press as
saying they had received no official
permission from the Navy to resell
the ships, but it was understood
here that full surrender of title is
involved. In such circumstances,
the company would be free to sell
the planes on the cash-and- carry
basis of all belligerent purchasing
here.
The Navy has 1T additional re-
serve planes.
The Army Air Corps lists upward
of 1000 pursuit and bomber planes
as "obsolete" by European war
standards. These Army planes,
however, were not covered by the
Navy announcement of policy.
Officials said specially that 40 ad-
ditional Naval Reserve dive bombers,
like the so released yesterday, would
be turned in to the Curtiss Co. at
Buffalo as requirements were avail
able.
Included in Reserve List.
These and the original so were in
cluded among 227 reserve planes dis
tributed among Is inland and sea-
board bases, of which 100 were listed
as service craft and 81 as obsolete
or obsolescent.
The estimate of approximately
1000 semi obsolete Army combat
planes was given to Congress last
month by Maj. Gen. Henry H
Arnold. chief of the Air Corps. He
thus classified about 400 pursuit
planes and ATT bombers, aside from
miscellaneous craft, all of which are
to be displaced as new planes Or
dered last year are delivered.
More extensive sales of various
military supplies was indicated yes
terday by Secretary of the Treasury
Morgenthau, who has exercised q
co-ordinating supervision over for
eign war purchasing, in announce
ment that the Allies have completed
a billion-dollar buying program here
and are ready to launch a new one.
With surplus World War Arma.