Evening star., 1940-05-27

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interceptor pursuit plane costs
$685. 900. one medium bomber
costs 100000.
1,700 Anti-hircraft Guns,
And LOO Tanks.
In 1888 we had only 355 anti
aircraft guns. We now have
more than 1,700 modern anti
aircraft guns of all typos on hand
or order. And you ought to know
that 3-inch anti-aircraft
gun costs $4,000 without any of
the fire-control equipment that
goes with it.
In 1888 there were only "a
modern infantry mortars in the
entire Army. We now have on
hand and on order more than
1000.
In 1888 we had only 48 modern
tanks and armored cars; today
we have on hand and on order
1,700. Each one of our heavier
tanks costs $4,000.
There are many other items in
which our progress since 1888 has
been rapid. And the great pro-
portion Of this advance has been
during the last two years.
In 1888 we had 1858 Army
pilots. Today the Army alone
has more than 5000 of the best
fighting flyers in the world, who
last year flew more than 1000 900
hours in combat training. This
does not include the hundreds
of splendid pilots in the National
Guard and organized Reserves.
Within the past year the pro-
ductive capacity Of the aviation
industry to produce military
planes has been tremendously in
creased. This capacity today,
however, Is still inadequate. But
the Government, working with
industry. is determined to in
crease this capacity to meet our
needs. We intend to harness the
efficient machinery of these
manufacturers to the Govern
ment's program of being able to
get $4,000 planes year.
Unity Of Control
And the Air Force.
One additional word about air.
craft. Recent wars, including
the current war in Europe, have
demonstrated beyond doubt that
fighting efficiency depends on
unity of control.
In sea operations the airplane
Is just as much an integral part
Of unity Of operations as are the
submarine, the destroyer and the
battleship; and in land warfare
the airplane is just as much a
part Of military operations as are
the tank corps, the engineers,
the artillery or the infantry IT
self. Therefore, the air forces
should be part of the Army and
Navy.
At my request the Congress is
voting the largest appropriation
ever asked by the Army or the
Navy in peacetime; and the
equipment and training provided
by them will be in addition to
the figures I have given you.
The world situation may SO
change that it will be necessary
to reappraise our program at any
time. In such case am conf
dent that the Congress and the
Chief Executive will work in har-
mony as a team-as they are
doing today.
Won't Hesitate to Ask
More Funds II Needed.
I will not hesitate at any mo-
ment to ask for additional funds
when they are required.
In this era of swift, mechan-
lied warfare we all have to re-
member that what is modern to-
day and up to date, what is eff
ficient and practical, becomes OBJ
solete and outworn tomorrow.
Even while the production line
turns out airplanes, new ones are
being designed on the drafting
table.
Even as a cruiser slides down
the ways. plans for improvement,
plans for increased efficiency in
the next model, are taking shape
in the blue prints of designers.
Every days fighting in Europe,
on land, on sea and in the air,
discloses constant changes in
methods Of warfare. We are con-
stantly improving and redesign-
ing, testing new weapons and
seeking to produce in accordance
with the latest that the brains of
science conceive.
We are calling upon the re-
sources, the efficiency and the
ingenuity of American manufac-
turers Of war material Of all
kinds - airplanes, tanks, guns.
ships and all the hundreds of
products that go into this ma
terial. The Government of the
United States itself manufac-
lures few of the implements of
war. Private industry will con-
tinue to be the source of most of
this material, and private in
dustry will have to be speeded UP
to produce 1t at the rate and ef-
ficiency called for by the needs
of the times.
know that private business
cannot be expected to make all
the capital investment required
for expansions Of plants and fac
tories and personnel which this
program calls for at once. It
would be unfair to expect indus
trial corporations to do this, when
there is a chance that change
in international affairs may stop
future orders.
Government to Help
Finance Expansion.
Therefore, the Government of
the United States stands ready to
advance the necessary money to
help provide for the enlargement
Of factories, the establishment of
new plants, the employment of
thousands of necessary workers,
the development of new sources
of supply for the hundreds Of raw