Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-07-18

new thousands OF troops to their
detectives and dropped them by
parachute. This new feature of
warfare proved its effectiveness in
laying the groundwork for the
slower land invasion by mechanical
troops and foot soldiers.
Further Study and Tests.
Members of the test parachute
platoon are expected to form the
cadre for larger units, depending
on further study and tests, and les
sons yet to be learned as reliable
reports are received from abroad.
The platoon will be headed by
First 1t. William T. Ryder and
Second 1t. James A. Bassett. They
will be accompanied by Maj. E. A.
Smith, infantry; Warrant Officer
Harry Wilson, Air Corps, and four
enlisted men who are parachute
ringers. They will be met at Fort
Dix by Maj Harris M. Melasky, in
fantry, chief of the test section of
the Infantry Board.
The War Department, meanwhile,
served notice on the aircraft in
dustry that the Army does not con-
template erecting its own plants
and that it expects the aviation
industry to supply its needs.
Request for Plants.
The announcement came in re-
Spouse to hundreds of inquiries from
city managers, municipal authori-
ties, civic, industrial and CONNER
cial leaders. Most of the corre-
spondence relates to requests for
establishment of factories in the
''home town."
Army officials said the same pro-
posals are largely true with re-
gard to the manufacture of mu-
nitions. The general public response
to the requirements of the national
defense program is most gratifying,
1t was said. Location of any addi-
tional facilities that may be au-
thorized under the defense program
will be based on strategical con-
siderations, it was pointed out.
Powder Plant Contract Signed.
The War Department, looking to
an adequate supply of ammunition
for the Army, has contracted for a
$25 100000 smokeless powder plant
which will more than triple the Ma
tons existing output.
Announcement of the contract
signing yesterday conceded with
the assertion of Secretary Stimson
that unless compulsory military
service was instituted, the defense
outlook would be very dark"
Congress has voted millions for
military materiel, he told prepared
ness advocates from AZ States, but
nothing has been done to supply
the man power necessary to use that
equipment.
There Is no way by which those
men can be obtained" he declared,
except by a selective service act
somewhat similar to that we had
% years ago"
Louisville Area Selected.
The contract for the powder plant,
to be located in the Louisville (Ky0
industrial area, was signed with the
e. I. du Point de Nemours & Co. The
plant will be owned by the Federal
Government, xhnttNill be built aud
operated by Du Pont on a fixed fee
basis. -
On a normal operating basis, 1t is
expected to produce 10000, 900
pounds a year, compared with the
present IS ,000, 900 annual output of
the Army's Picatinny IN. j. Arse
nal and commercial plants.
Under tentative War Departments
plans, three other powder plants
are projected for the Middle West
with funds either already provided
by Congress or asked in the new de-
tense recommendations of nearly
5000, 000, 900 submitted by Presi-
dent Roosevelt last week.
The Louisville plant was the first
to be undertaken Of a contemplated
string of munitions factories be-
cause officials rated the shortage in
the supply of smokeless powder one
OF the most serious weaknesses of
the defense preparations.
Heavy World War Output.
In the :. World War American
capacity was stepped up to a billion
pounds q year. The country's small
annual present output would be
shot away in a single day of any
offensive like the World War st.
Mihiel or Meuse-Argonne battles,
ordnance experts estimated.
The powder plant will be situated
on 4, 500-acre tract across the Ohio
River about II miles from Louis
vile. With about 5000 men at
work, 1t Is expected to be completed
tn 10 months.
American capacity already is in
process Of enlargement as a result
Of Allied orders. The British and
French largely financed a plant
near Memphis, Tenn, which is to
have a daily capacity of about $780,
600 pounds, compared with zoo, 900
pounds for the War Department. S
Louisville plant.
"A major national defense effort
within the next two years." Con-
gress was told by Col. James H
Burns, ordnance ofi1cer, would de-
mand an immediate investment of
nearly 1,000, 000, 900 to expand mu-
nitions manufacturing capacity OF
all kinds.
100000 Minimum Force.
From Gen. George G. Marshall,
chief Of staff, came an estimate
meanwhile that the Army of 2,OO0,-
600 envisioned in the latest defense
estimates submitted to Congress was
the minimum force required to safe
guard the Western Hemisphere.
In his special message last week,
Mr.. Roosevelt asked funds for full
modern equipment for 1,2OO, 900
Regular Army and National Guard
troops, plus reserve equipment of
such critical" items as tanks,
planes, guns and ammunition for an
additional nm mn