The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-16
In Washinqton
BY T EDISON
The News Washington Corresponds

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-f the class IN SIM
pie arithmetic will now come to attention, an
attempt will be made to see how many de.
s~troyers, bombing planes and cargo vessels
can be bought for 81, 300, 600, 900.
Everyone in Washington talks so glibly in
terms of millions and billions, all the time,
you would think any Of the experts could give
you the answer to that one, right of, but
such is not the case.
This problem, by the way, is not out Of
order. It was placed on the blackboard for
two reasons:
First: Wendell Willkie. in his testimony be-
fore the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee,
stated that Britain needed destroyers, planes
and transports above all else.
Second: The House of Representatives, in
passing the lease-lend bill on to the Senate,
inserted on it's final day of discussion an
amendment proposed by Democratic John w.
Mccormack of South Boston, Mass, authori-
ling the President to transfer defense articles
to other governments, but with this kicker on
the end:
"... The value of defense articles dis
posed of procured from funds heretofore
appropriated shall not exceed 81, SOC, DOC, 600"
The purpose of the amendment was to put
a curb on the President and prevent him from
giving away ''by blank check the whole navy
or %airforce, as his opponents feared he might.
Four billion and seven billion-dollar limits had
also been proposed, but the figure of 81, 300,
600, 900 was inserted as representing approx
mately 10 per cent of the current defense Ell
fort which now runs between II and Is bill
lions. If the Senate keeps that 81, 800, 600, 900
figure, the United States is limited to 40 per
~cent-all- out aid o-Britain and the problem
the money.
SUBTRACT-AND THEN
SUBTRACT SOME MORE
The Treasury Department is now compiling
a list of equipment which can be spared, but
if the first item for Britain is the $500, 900, 900
worth of war tools which Prime Minister
Churchill called for in his recent address,
there is left from the 81, 900, O00, 900 only $500,
600, 900 for destroyers, planes and ships.
Navy Secretary Knox has frowned on more
destroyers for Bitain at this time, but if we
were to give another so destroyers from the
159 we already have or the 60 new ones under
construction, figuring a destroyer as worth
S 5000, 600, the so would cost $500, DOC, 900 and
leave $500, 900, 900 for planes and ships.
British losses in merchant shipping since be-
ginning of the war have averaged 68, 900 tons
a week. British shipyards can turn out new
ships at a rate which will replace half the
loss. If the United States were to supply the
balance we would have to make available l.
768, 900 tons a year which is, curiously enough,
about half our existing tonnage in ocean-going
vessels, though we have 200 merchant ships
of 3, 135, 900 gross tons on order.
Costs of shipping vary widely. In the last
four months the navy has bought four
5000 : ton cargo vessels at more than ST.
DOC, 900 each or 1888 a ton. Todd Shipyards
Corporation, however, has a contract to build
600, 900 tons of shipping for the British at a
total cost of 500, 900, 900 or s '66 a ton. Taking
this latter and smaller figure of $166 a ton,
supplying ST. 68, 600 tons would run to about
$295, 900, 900.
Subtract this from the $500, 0OO, 600 balance
remaining three paragraphs up and you have
$105, 600, 900 left for planes. Average price OF
a modern patrol bomber fully equipped IS
$125, 600. Divide that into $105, 900. 900 and you
will see that Britain would get no more than
$50 planes.
ANOTHER YEAR,
If we are unable to give Britain the de-
stroyers, but substitute a cruiser or two a.
$25, 900, 900 each or a battleship at a minimum
SOS, 900, 900, the number of planes and destroy
ers would be proportionately reduced, elgn.
destroyers being obtainable for the price OF
one battleship, and 200 planes for one cruiser
There is one ace in the hole which ofers
Britain hope of more help. This is the TACT
that the ST. 900. DOC. 900 limit applies to 'funoS