The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-25
ENLARGEMENT OF
ARMY AIR CORPS
PASSED BY HOUSE
Continued from Page One)

Continued from Page One)
such a development, he said, with
Governor Stark of Missouri.
During the afternoon, Mr.. Roos-
evelt received Admiral William D.
Leahy, retired, former chief of ma
val operations and now governor
of Puerto Rico, who told reporters
as he left that the air bases under
construction there will make it ex-
tremely hazardous for any foreign
power to invade the United States,
or Central or northern South
America. They will be completed
in two years, he said, but could be
hurried.
Mr.. Roosevelt described his pi-
~lot-training program at his regular
Friday press conference. In the
year beginning July l, it is con-
templated that three months of ba-
sic training be given to so, 600
prospective pilots through the Civ
il Aeronautics Authority.
Will Ask Funds
The cost of the program he could
not estimate at this time, he said,
but when the figures are ready,
congress will be asked for a sup
Elemental appropriation. The So.
900 figure is five times the number
of pilots who will have been given
training when the present fiscal
year closes on June 30.
Meanwhile proposals for action
against fifth columnists' were
made by Senator Bridges (R-NH
who recommended) legislation for.
bidding aliens to acquire, carry
or own implements of war and
Senator Reynolds D-NC who pro.
posed a $780, 900 investigation of do
nestle threats to the national de.
tense.
The senate heard a new appeal
from Senator Pepper D-Fla fol
immediate assi) stance for the AL
lies-aid for which Pepper h a S
been pleading for several days
Denouncing Germany as a violato1
Of the Kellogg-Briand treaty to out
law war, Pepper introduced a res
olution to give aid short of war
to Britain and France. The assist.
ance, he said, would include the
sale of American aircraft, ships.
artillery and other war supplies
Other Developments
The day produced numerous 9th
err defense developments.
% Mr.. Roosevelt said it was
cockeyed to suppose that he was
planning a coalition cabinet to di'
rect the defense program.
e Manual cturers of machine
tools. an important item in the in
dustrial expansion necessitated by
the defense program, were invited
to meet here Monday. Secretary
Morgenthau has said that IF they
are going to take care of the bust
ness, they have got to step on it
g )Several republicans renewed
the demand that Mr.. Roosevelt
state his 1910 political intentions,
saying he could do SO in the radio
address he is planning for Sunday
night.
"a Chairman Dies D-Tex) Of
the house committee on unAmeri.
can activities said he had uncon.
irmed reports from Mexico that a
number of camouhaged air bases
had been built just south of the
RIO Grande under German direc.
ton.
Is Discussing the fifth column
problem, Mr.. Roosevelt said -
of the governments sources of III
formation was the Dies committee
record, adding, however, that some
of the data was good and some moi
so good.
(6 Senator Barkley) D-Ky, the
majority floor Leader, protested
what he called irresponsible
statements" after Senator Lun
deem (FL-Minn had charged thai
D$7,0 600, 900, 900 has disappeared
and we have no defense"
Cd Seeking organized labor:
port for the defense program, Sec
rotary Perkins said she would az
point committees from the A. +
of L. and the CLIO for that purpose
The announcement was made afte1
preliminary conversations with
representatives of those organiza
tons.
Mr.. Roosevelt's remarks on the
pilot training program recalled thu
plan announced a week ago by Col
Frank Knox, the 1896 republican
vice-presidential nominee. 1t callee
for a series of "Plattsburghs o
the air" to be backed by a GROUP
of prominent men, and Knox saie
it had the approval of the admins
tration and army and navy air of
~ficials.