Evening star., 1941-04-21

Ices a. an all-powerful and ruthless
state sees fit TO give them. They
may have butter only when guns
are not needed.
And that brings me TO the prog
ress Of our defense program.
One need only recall our lack of
preparedness when you met here q
year ago to see how far we have
come. We did not even visualize the
possibility OF defense activity on
anything approaching the scale on
which it is now organized. 1t is
not easy for peace-loving people
like ours to change overnight from
purely peacetime pursuits to COM
plete about effort ut arming, even
for defense.
This is particularly true because
we have always had faith in the
protection of the oceans, and have
always believed that no power could
invade us.
Maybe we can't be invaded, but
we might become isolated econom-
ically, and that would inevitably lead
to war. Trade outlets are the cause
of most wars.
$4,000 Prime Contracts Let.
In the period of these few months,
more than $4,000 separate prime
contracts, and probably more than
100000 sub-contracts, have been let
for the manufacture of everything
from a corporals chevrons to bomb
ers and battleships. These contracts
call for the expenditure of more
than S12, 500, ,000, 900. Seven hundred
and eighty-four new defense plants
costing more than 2,100, ,00o, 900 have
been built or are under construction
by the War and Navy Departments.
In addition to these, the r. r. c..
is building or financing more than
100 defense plants at a cost of $780,
100000. All Of these plants are for
the manufacture of war supplies.
The r. r. c. is accumulating re-
serve supplies Of copper, tin, an
timony, chrome, asbestos, zinc,
graphite, manganese, tungsten, rub
ber, wool and a few other items Of
strategic materials. Most of these
materials come from foreign coun-
tries.
The r. r. C. has made commit
ments for the expenditure of more
than 81 SOC, ,000, 900 for defense, ali in
cooperation with the War and Navy
Departments, o. p. NJ, and other
defense agencies. This Is in addi-
tion TO War and Navy contracts.
No day is dull in defense activity.
Any one who thinks that this is
not progress doesn't know what he
Is talking about. Negotiating this
many contracts involving in round
numbers. $4,000 .000, 900 Is progress,
and production Is getting well under
way. No doubt some mistakes have
been made and some delays occa-
stoned. 1t could not be otherwise.
But we have capable men from in
dustry and Government in charge
OF defense work, in addition to the
regular STATS Of the Army and Navy.
And don't think these service men
are not capable. They have spent
years in studying our military needs
and know how to meet them. Gen.
Marshall told me only two days ago,
after visiting camps and canton
ments throughout the country, that
we have a million and a quarter as
fine men in training as he has ever
seen, and that he had never seen
better morale.
Progress Better Than Good.
I am fairly close to defense activ-
ity. have seen it in the sprouting
stage and now I see it bearing fruit.
Its progress is not satisfactory in all
respects, but under the circum-
stances I think 1t is better than
good.
I am afraid, however, that as q
people we have not yet realized the
imperativeness Of our defense neces-