The Wilmington morning star., 1940-05-15
R. POINTS TO
NEED OF LARGER
MILITARY FORCES
Continued from Page One)

would raise the total defense outlay
for the year starting July 1 above
$4,000, 900, 0oo.
In addition to the Presidents pro-
nouncement, defense questions and
developments linked with war abroad
had filled Washington's day:
Pershing Asks Preparedness
% General John J.. Pershing,
commander Of American forces in
France in the World war, said in a
formal statement that every energy
in this country" should be devoted
to preparedness against the pos
sibility Of war;"
(2) The state department announc-
ed that the United States was will
ing to make a joint protest with
other American republics against
Germany's invasion of Holland,
Luxembourg and Belgium.
80 The navy recommended an
immediate appropriation of $780,
900, 900 for expecting work of 6S
combat and auxiliary vessels, now
under construction, with the work
week of shipyard employees increas-
ed from 80 or 40 to 48 hours and
three shifts on the job.
A.. Senator Taft (R-Ohio) accused
the administration Of using the
emergency defense situation as IAN
excuse to exceed the debt limit
which is really being broken through
it's own domestic extravaganza"
Tax Program Asked
5. Senator La Toilette (Prog-Wis.)
demanded an Intelligent tax pro-
gram" Senator McNary of Oregon.
the republican leader, said he was
opposed to raising the debt limit
that additional defense needs should
be met through new taxes.
6. Senator Lodge (R-Mass), not
ing the tremendous effectiveness OF
Germany's aviation, called for the
establishment of "at least three new
training centers in the United States
so that our production of pilots will
keep pace with our production of
airplanes."
6. Secretary Hull said the 1861
Americans in Italy had been advised
to leave that country, in terms COM
parable to those used in warning
American citizens to quit other ma
tions now at war.
The trend of events in Europe,
Germany's smashing mechanical at
tack on Belgium and Holland, the
Importance of it's air force in the
Nazi strategic scheme, had obvious
ly deeply impressed Mr.. Roosevelt.
There were two reasons, he said, for
reinforcing American defenses:
(1) The gain of knowledge from
experiences of the last few weeks
and months.
(2) The progress of military events
in the last few weeks, which newt
ably had brought the defense picture
of the United States a little closer
to the United States.
Fears Large Sum
How much money his program
would cost, he could not at the
moment say but he feared the sum
would be high. In justification Of his
position, he referred to a smile
which his press secretary, Stephen
T. Early, had used in discussing the
defense problem with reporters earl
Ter in the day.
Early had compared the situation
to that of a four alarm fire up the
street, which the wind is blowing
toward your home. In such a case, he
said. the issue at once becomes the
protection of your home, even
though you have not the money to
buy the chemicals and other equip
ment and scarcely time to go to the
bank for it. Mr.. Roosevelt carried
the figure of speech a bit further.
A great fire in a city, he said,
would almost inevitably affect the
expenditures of that city in it's fol-
lowing fiscal year, together with
real estate values and tax collec-
lions. But he added, the newspaper.
men covering the fire do not write
their leads or the question of the
future payments but on the fire it.
self.
The money would be paid some
day, he continued, from taxes or by
borrowing. but just now. the main
thing was to get 1t to work.
! He was asked about the POSSIBLE