Evening star., 1941-05-20

we were able to supply our army
in France with light equipment,
such as arms, rifles. bayonets, etc;
but even at the time Of the armis-
tice, all the heavier equipment, such
as heavy artillery. was being sup
piled by the French and British.
Even with our knowledge OF tractor
machinery and equipment, accord
ing to Secretary of War Stimson,
we had succeeded In shipping only
l43 tractors to France when the
armistice was signed.
Gigantic Task Involved.
In 1917 we knew nothing, practi-
cally, about airplanes for war pur-
poses. Even after we mad declared
war we sent q mission to France to
find out what types of planes were
needed. 1t was not until 1918 that
single plane was delivered in
France. In July, 1917, we had ap-
propriated $365,ooO, 900 for the pur-
chase of airplanes; in 1910 the
Congress appropriated 81 500 100000
for this purpose. The situation in
the manufacture Of airplanes vividly
portravs what I am trying to tell
you. Compare 81 100000 900 against
1855 100000 and you will see how
necessary it is that this industrial
machine be speeded up and faster
and greater progress be made each
day.
The figures I have just used give
something of the general idea con-
fronting the industries of this ma
ton. Time does not permit de-
tailed discussion of each industry;
therefore, l shall only mention one
again merely to show something
of the gigantic task that awaits
industry itself.
If the war has proved anything,
1t has proved beyond any shadow
of a doubt that nation which is
not adequately supplied with air
power will lose. Control of the air
today Is as vital as control of the
seas proved to be in the last war
The first job. therefore, in the ma
tons arms program is the building
OF airplaneS-and more and more
planes. We are told that with the
impetus given by French and English
orders, the airplane industry had
already launched a gigantic devel-
opment and expansion program be-
fore our effort really began in 1910
But even now the number of planes
being produced is far short of the
1000 monthly planes which the
President recommended.
Unfortunately, adequate supplies
of aluminium and magnesium have
not been provided One company
had a complete monopoly of the
production of aluminium in this
country The Special Senate In
vestigating Committee, headed by
Senator Truman of Missouri. which
is considering many questions of
our defense program. developed some
most interesting information con-
cerning the aluminium and mag
nesium supplies. This is important
when it is considered that at least
80 per cent of a big bomber, inclUd-
ing the engine, is aluminium. The
Aluminium Co. had followed the
practice of providing no excess ca
pacity, either of allumina or alumni
mum production. This may have
been good business practice, bene-
fetal to a monopoly, but it gave us
no excess capacity for war purposes.
The Aluminium CO. total production
on its own power, even in 1912, will
only be 4lOO00,OOO pounds annually,
whereas the estimates for direct
military needs alone are more than
100000, without including indi-
rect needs or civilian requirements.
Selfish Interests Assailed.
This situation in aluminium pre-
sents the thought which I just ex-
pressed with reference to civilian
uses. 1t applies likewise to many
other industries. I am definitely OF
the opinion that if we are going
to put forth our full effort, we must
reduce. curb and curtail our civil