Evening star., 1941-08-23
Presidents Figures
Back Byrd Charges,
Senator Asserts
Vireinion Reitero.es
U. S. Is Not Reody
To Defend Itself
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt and Senator
Byrd, Democrat, of Virginia, are far
from agreement on the progress OF
the Nations defense program.
The Chief Executive said yester-
day that the Virginian had been
sold down the river on his recent
figures on production in defense in
dustries which he said was tagging
dangerously.
Senator Byrd, in reply, declared
that the Presidents own figures
showed that the Nation is not ready
to defend itself adequately now.
Fighting planes, said Senator
Byrd, were the first line of defense
for both Britain and America. He
added that United States production
was about one-third that of Ger
many.
The Senator issued q statement
quoting Secretary of the Navy Knox
and Chairman Land of the Maritime
Commission, in support of some of
his statistics.
"Wisecracking has its place, Byrd
said, in support of some Of his sta
tistics. But President Roosevelt, by
his statement today. emphasized the
gravity of our national situation,
and do not think anyone can dis
miss lightly our preparedness pro-
gram with the statement that some
body sold Senator Byrd down the
river on the figures in all categories
but planes"
The President, speaking from
memory, said he understood the
plane schedule for July was $500.
As matter of fact, the July sched-
ule was 1855 and fell 200 short OF
this schedule, and we produced In
total less planes in July than in
June"
In his statement yesterday. Sena-
tor Byrd recalled he had said in a
Senate speech Tuesday that only So
merchant vessels of 1000 gross tons
and over were built and delivered
during 1910
I have in my possession q signed
letter to this effect from Admiral
Emory S. Land, chairman Of the
United States Maritime Commits
sion" he continued, adding:
Il stated that for the calendar
year l94l, only 78 cargo vessels
would be constructed and u tankers,
making total of 105
Quotes Land In Support.
Il have in my possession a letter
dated May IA signed by Admiral
Land stating exactly these figures.
Does the President dispute this
source?
In my Senate speech I said that
only 28 major naval vessels will be
added to our Navy in 1912 battle
ships, II destroyers, 8 submarines,
no aircraft carriers and no cruisers.
I have this in writing from the Sec
retary of the Navy. Does the Presi-
dent dispute this source?"
Senator Byrd said the President
apparently did not deny this state
ment that the production OF Comm.
anti-aircraft guns was negligible for
the two-year period starting with
the European war. The President" {"
he added, "corrects my estimate of
four 90-mm. guns monthly and said
the program calls for 81 monthly
for the balance of this year. The
future production is, OF course, prob
1ematical, but whether four or sixty
one Comm. guns are produced
monthly for the rest of the year,
either figure is woefully inadequate :"
Recalling he had stated that the
country had 52l tanks on hand last
September /, of which 245 were listed
as obsolete and all the others were
entiquated, the Virginia Senator
said he had received that informa-
ton in writing from an indisputeble
Government source"
No Heavy Tanks on Order.
Senator Byrd continued:
Not one single heavy tank has
been produced or is on order. I
stand upon this statement and have
official proof to sustain it.
MY statement that no tanks had
been sent to England itself was
technically accurate, but now find
that about 200 light 12-ton tanks
were sent to Africa for use by the
British. Not a single medium 81
ton tank, am told, has been sent
to the British anywhere, and not a
single heavy Cotton tank is on
order.
Regarding my estimate of fifteen
37-mm. anti-tank guns in July and
the Presidents estimate OF u, and
as to the alleged discrepancy be-
tween our figures in 8l-mm. mortars,
again it will be noted that the Presi-
dents figures are for future produc-
ton, and In either set of figures q
dangerous delay in production of
very essential equipment Is shown.
I say again nearly. every training
camp is short of training equipment.
Only yesterday the newspapers re-
ported that at Preston, Ark, guns
were fashioned out of 6-inch logs
and that broomstick machine guns
were in use. >"
Senator Byrd said the discrepan-
eles between his figures and the
Presidents were minor. Mr.. Roose-
welt, the Virginian said, did not
mention that 100000 man-days
had been lost since January / by
strikes in defense industries.
He did not mention the con-
fusion and conflicting authority that
every one recognizes now exist in all
defense agencies in Washington, or
the imperative need for a one man
head for all defense agencies Of the
Government" Senator Byrd added.