Evening star., 1940-05-15
Congress 10 Get
Defense Fund
Plea Tomorrow
President Rushes
Special Message;
Quick Approval Seen
BY the Associated Press.


President Roosevelt sped work to-
day on his request for an extraor.
dinary defense program expected to
cost $976, 6,0o0 900. but the White
House said he still would be unable
to whip it into shape for submis-
sion to Congress before tomorrow.
The Chief Executive worked until
2 am, the White House said, and
then directed that his calling list
tor today be held to a minimum so
that he could continue drafting the
request, which-after his own re-
armament appeal and that of Gen.
John j. Pershing yesterday-seemed
almost certain Of quick approval by
Congress.
While the President has decided
on the amount he will request to
bulwark the Army and Navy, it was
said the figure would not be dis
closed until the message reached
Capitol Hill.
Larger Fleet Held Essential
The Senate Naval Committee con-
tributed to the armament discussion
by submitting a recommendation for
an II per cent fleet expansion bill,
saying the resultant defense force
would be SO effective that few ma.
tions, not excluding victorious totali-
tartan nations, will challenge its
power"
Recommending expansion Of fleet
and air bases. the report declared
the United States must have a Navy
capable Of controlling the sea ap-
proaches to this country and which
must be supplemented by a strong
land-based air force.
It said an air force alone would
not be sufficient, observing that the
United. States might be defeated by
. blockade Of It's trade lanes and the
establishment of enemy cir bases
close to American shores from which
bombers could attack industrial cen.
tiers.
The report, prepared by Chairman
Walsh. argued against concentra-
tion OF wartime power, asserting
that American entry into the Euro
pean conflict would be certain to
be followed by regimentation OF
authority which would make this
practically totalitarian Govern
ment.
More Panama Bases Urged.
The committee said the United
States was not vulnerable to direct
attack by any means whatever save
those with which a Thoroughly
modern navy and air force can
deal adequately.
Observing that future considera-
ton OF a two-ocean fleet may be
necessary, the committee recon-
mended extension of the existing
submarine and naval air bases in
the Panama Canal area. It said
it might be desirable to consider
the question of building q canal
across Nicaragua.
In the Pacific" the report said,
I'VE should maintain an impreg-
nable fleet and air base in Hawaii:
complete or undertake the construc-
ton Of the air and submarine bases
recommended by the Hepburn
(navaD Board at Unalaska, Sitka
and Kodiak, Alaska, and the air and
submarine bases at Midway, Wake,
johnson, Palmyra, Canton, and in
the mid-Pacif1c Ocean.
I'VE should make Guam a link
IN our scheme of national defense
by developing its harbor and facil.
tiles, and maintaining there an op-
Grating force Of submarines and
long-range patrol planes. It will
then stand as sentinel OF the sea-
q far-hung lookout, to furnish vital
information to the defense line Of
our fleet wherever it may be.
Caribbean Air Base Favored.
In the Atlantic, we must improve
our bases at Hampton Roads, Va;
Pensacola, Fla; Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, and complete the bases re-
Gently authorized at Quonsett Point,
r. l.; Jacksonville, Fla, and San
Juan, Puerto Rico.
Serious consideration should be
given the question of acquiring, II
possible, places in the Caribbean
area for additional United States