Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-07-17

spent about II, 800
million dollars
which is about the
same amount aSlbza1 sz'su
was spent in 1918 when we were at
war. The receipts of the govern
ment for the past IL months were
1900 million, which leaves us about
5000 million dollars in the red.
Expert estimates for 1912, based
on passage of the new tax bill be-
| fore Congress, include:
Receipts --$11,0 00, 000, 900
Expenditures -------- 22,OOO, DOC, OOO
Deficit ----------- IL 900 ,0OO, 600
Most Administration leaders hope
the $4,000 million dollar spending
estimate for fiscal 1912 will be too
conservative. Analysts at the Office
of Production Management, however,
find little to support these hopes.
Defense spending alone next year
will amount to about $500 million
dollars, according to the Budget Bur-
eau.
A Sizzling Report.
The House Military Affairs COM
mittee made public last week report
on production of national defense
material that does not offer much
encouragement to the American peo-
pie and certainly none at all to
those who are rearin' to get into the
war. Not only is there serious
- - H. IoL -,
dustries but also bottle necks in pro-
duction because of inability to secure
raw materials, and necessity for clear
ing everything over the Presidents
desk.
The remarkable part of the report
is that it was prepared by New Deal
followers so no one can charge parti-
san politics.
The report frankly states that at the
rate we are now going, it will be
another year or 18 months before we
can hope to reach peak production,
notwithstanding that Congress has
generously appropriated money for
the defense program.
Criticizes Army.
Representative Ross A. Collins of
Mississippi, is conceded to be the
best informed man in either House
of Congress on our military machine.
For 20 years he has been member
of the House subcommittee on Army
appropriations. In an article that
appeared in current magazine Mr..
Collins takes the Army apart and
presents to the American people a
picture that is not very reassuring.
He called attention to the fact
that 100000 acknowledgements and
air borne-German troops smashed
the French mass army of 100000
troops but that our War department
is building another old style mass
army" He complains that the IL
months training program for select
ees based on a departmental plan
which makes infantry and field ar
tillery the basic arms never will
produce a real or an efficient army.
"And today" he said, "we have
not one division fit for combat"
Suppose a victorious Germany
landed troops or stirred up trouble
in South America" he continued,
"our job would be to get there quick
ly and stamp out the menace to the
security of our hemisphere. We
know from every evidence of the war
in Europe that small, easily trans
ported panzer force supported by an
oI@ - 81, fho
Americas"
MIR. Collins says it was not the
Army but Congress which forced
adoption of the modern rubber-tired
chassis for field and anti-tank ar
tillery, the Army delayed rather than
the Army blocked adoption of the
flying fortress for long range bomb
ing.
ut takes young men or men with
youths progressive spirit to win
wars" Representative Collins said.
Napoleon was only So when he de-
feated the Austrians. Give, Wolfe
and Wellington were world famous
before 40. Washington was IL when
he took command of the Continental
Army. In 1862 Grant was 40, Stuart
80, Sherman AZ, Sheridan 81"
Average age of United States gen.
eral officers is estimated to be go
years; of German generals As years.
Married Men Deferred.
BY the time this letter appears in
print the House will probably have
passed the bill amending the Selec-
tive Service act to lower the maxi
mum age from 35 years to % years.
The National draft headquarters has
ordered deferment of married men.
These changes correct two important
features of the Act that have aroused
much opposition to the law.
The White House has announced
that all selectees now in the service
will be discharged at the expiration
of their year of training. The future
of the National Guard has not as yet
Ia \