Evening star., 1940-05-24
Full Speed Ahead!

That democracy can function as
swiftly as dictatorship when ma
tional security demands it.
The fact that both the Army and
the Navy bills were approved unani-
mously also is gratifying proof that
the Senate, on an issue of national
defense, can rise above politics. It
means that Senators voted, not as
Democrats or Republicans, but as
Americans.
1t is safe to assume that the House
will demonstrate with equal prompt
ness the determination of this coun-
try not to be caught unprepared, or
to be lulled into a false sense of
security by oceans that are not as
wide as they were before the days Of
modern mechanical warfare.
Both bills previously had passed
the House, but must 60 back now for
action on the new emergency funds
included by the Senate in response
to the appeal Of President Roosevelt,
after the situation in Europe became
more critical.
The Senate approved substantially
all the President recommended in
his recent message, and more. The
story OF how the entire defense pro-
gram has been expanded to meet
any possible future threat to this
country can be seen at a glance BY
comparing these figures:
When the Navy bill passed the
House three months ago it carried
1866, ,779, ,438. Today it contains
$780,, ,265,o3s in cash, plus authority
to make contracts for an additional
$171 ,491 800, or a total of $1,473,-
756,728.
When the Army bill went through
the House nearly two months ago it
called for only $784, ,999 ,094. Today
it carries $l,500 O23 ,O8S in cash, plus
authority to make contracts for
1923 ,22e,63e, or a total of $685.
252,724.
Proflting by the lesson the democ-
racies OF Europe are learning today,
both bills stress the development of
strong air forces for both the Army
and Navy as quickly as American
industry can produce them, with en-
larged facilities to train pilots.
In his address to Congress the
President said he would like to see
this Nation geared up to a produc-
ton capacity of $4,000 planes a year.
While the pending appropriations do
not seek to reach that goal in one
Jump, the general objective of all the
pending legislation is to provide the
Army and Navy with approximately
10000 planes each in the not distant
future. This will give the United
States a formidable air force.
Under the 1888 law authorizing
not less than 5000 planes, the Navy
now has 1900, with e33 sched-
uled for delivery in the coming fiscal
year. The bill which passed yester-
day contains authority to order 2,e7o
more. Before the session ends Con-
gress is expected to pass a separate
enabling act, under which the Navy,s
air force could be boosted to the
10000 total, together with authority
to build twenty shore air bases along
both coast lines and at strategic in
sular possessions. The same measure
will authorize the training of 10000
pilots. Some Of the money in the
pending appropriation bill is in
tended to start this general author
ization.
There Is also in the new part of
the Navy bill $100,O00,O 900 to hasten
completion of sixty-eight warships of
various types already under con-
struction and for possible use in
starting twenty-four more. Senator
Byrnes of South Carolina, in charge
OF the bill, told the Senate he would
prefer to concentrate on launching
as soon as possible the vessels near
est to completion. In addition. the
Senate has voted the President an
un-earmarked fund of $68 900 900 for
emergency naval use, some Of which
could be used to commission inactive
deStrOyerS and submarines.
The Senate went beyond the
budget to provide funds to bring the
enlisted strength of the Navy up
from 145,o00 to 10000 men, and Of
the Marine Corps, from 25,ooo to
$4,000.
For the Army Air Corps the old
program called for a fleet of $500
planes. The War Department bill
as 1t now stands makes provision for
1855 more, bringing the total to
8,o66. AS in the case Of the Navy, it
is expected that in the near future
this limit also will be raised to 10000,
The Army bill also will enable the
War Department to begin increasing
the present wholly inadequate num-
ber of anti-aircraft guns, tanks and
other mechanical units that have
figured so prominently in the present
European war.
AS in the case Of the Navy, the
Senate went above the budget fig.
ures by adding $50,00o,o0o to raise
the enlisted personnel Of the Army