Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-07-03
President 10 Ask
5 Billion More
For Defense
New Funds Sought
To Boost Air Force
To SO, 900 Planes
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

Americas defense preparations
moved into new record levels today
as President Roosevelt prepared to
ask Congress for an additional
$4,000, 100000 supplemental arma-
ment program.
This new program will be di-
rected primarily, it was learned, at
boosting the Nations air strength
close to $4,000 planes and at expand
ing manufacturing facilities for the
rapid production of tanks, guns and
other essential materiel.
AS the Chief Executive drafted his
supplemental recommendations in
conference with defense advisers, the
National Defense Commission dis
closed tentative agreement had been
reached with the Packard Motor Co.
for the manufacture of 5000 Rolls
Royce airplane engines. Announce
ment also was made that the Navy
Department had awarded contracts
for three additional aircraft carriers
and two cruisers.
$4,000 900, 900 for Army.
OF the expected SIS 1000, 900 900 sup
Elemental program, it was antici-
pated that slightly more than S4.-
600 100000 will be devoted to Army
needs, with the remainder being
allotted to the Navy. A substantial
portion of the program, it was
learned, perhaps as much as half
of the sum involved, will be in the
form of immediate appropriation re-
quests, with the remainder In
authorizations.
1t was believed that this contem-
plated $4,000 100000 expansion of
Army materiel will just about COM
plete present plans for that branch
of the Nations defensive forces. Up
to this time emphasis has been
placed on speeding naval construc-
ton.
1t was indicated that an important
eature of the new program will be
he expansion of production facil-
ties not only for airplanes, but for
tanks, guns and other equipment.
The Presidents recommendations
are likely to be sent to Congress
early next week, prehaps Monday
and quite probably in formal
message to the legislators.
Assisting the President in drafting
the plan today were William S
Knudsen, production supervisor OF
the National Defense Commission;
Budget Director Harold D. Smith
Acting SECRETARY of War johnson
and Acting Secretary of Navy
Compton.
Today's warplane engine contract
which Henry Ford turned down re-
Gently because 5000 of the 5000 mo-
tors are to 60 to the British-went
to the Packard. company, Detroit
subject to the approval of the firms
directors, the Defense Commission
announced.
Plant Will Be fooled.
M. M. Gilman, Packard president
said his plant would be re-tooled
and prepared to begin actual pro-
duction 10 months from the date
the contract is signed. Mr.. Knud-
sen said estimated production would
be 20 engines a month at the start
reaching a total of $40 monthly
after Is months.
The motors are liquid-cooled and
of Rolls-Royce design, patents for
which are controlled by the British
government.
The plane carrier and cruiser con-
tracts, totaling s169 $50, 900. were
awarded the Newport News (va.)
Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. as the
Navy, acting with swiftness equal
ing its World War efforts, completed
within three weeks contract awards
for all 90 combatant vessels pro-
vided in its new appropriations.
The aircraft carriers will cost
$43, 662, 900 apiece, and the cruisers,
$19,272, 500 each.
The new contracts complete the
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