Evening star., 1941-03-26
By the Associated Press.
Awaiting word that President

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Awaiting word that President
Roosevelt had signed the $1,000 ,000,-
600 British-aid appropriation at sea
the Capital found today that the
cost OF enormous national defense
program had almost reached the
$40 900 900 900 mark.
Actually, an o. P. NJ. tabulation
showed, the authorized and proposed
United States expenditures since
June l, 1910. have totaled s39.177,-
100000, including the BritiSh-aid ap-
preparation. An additional S3,511.-
600 900 in orders have been placed
here by Great Britain in that period
The Presidents S signature on the
huge aid appropriation measure was
generally expected to be a signal for
new intensifcation of effort 10
get those dollars transformed into
the necessary supplies as rapidly as
possible, and to get those supplies
delivered TO Britain and American
armed forces.
Some saw a hint of a steppedup
AID tempo when defense officials late
yesterday ordered 200 tons of mag
nesium-an ingredient in incendiary
bombs-ready for Great Britain by
April /.
First Disclosure.
This was the first lease-lend con-
signment whose character was Off
cially disclosed. Authorities have
made known that other shipments
of supplies were either on theil
way or being prepared, but details
were withheld on the ground thai
military information was involved
The Office of Production Manage
ment directed the Dow Chemica
Co. to make the magnesium avail
able to the British by April l.
E. r. Stettinius. jr. director o.
priorities, also issued genera
preference order under which wal
materials makers will automatically
| have first call on the metal, as j
is needed. He specified that Brit.
ish orders are to be given the sam,
preferred status as United State
defense purchases. Producers arr
required to make deliveries only
as derected by the o. P. M.
A formal memorandum from tn
metals and minerals division of tht
o. P. M. declared that shortage
Of magnesium exists.
Defense officials already hav,
done considerable advance work il
preparing to handle the new floot
of orders that the $1,000, 900 ,00t
aid appropriation will loose. and Il
integate them, as far as possible
with Army and Navy purchasing
programs.
Congress Works on Requests.
Congress. meanwhile. kept work
ing away today on national defens,
appropriation requests on which
legislative action has yet TO b.
completed.
The Senate Appropriations Sub
committee, which has been con
sidering a joint Army-Navy s4,073,
813,074 supplemental appropria
ton, received President Roosevelt
request for an immediate $312,87l
600 increase in Army funds to b.
spent largely on new military post
and the expanding air corps.
Appearing before the subcommlt'
tee yesterday, Gen. George C. Mar
shall, Army chief of staff, was re-
ported to have urged the appro-
pria ton of the additional funds sc
that the Army could step up it:
airplane pilot training program
from its current goal of $4,000 new
pilots year to 10000
Meanwhile, it appeared likely
that the pending supplemental bill
would provide the means for op'
ponents to reopen a Senate flgh
against Army and Navy purchase.
of Argentine canned beef.
The Senate voted Monday, il
finally approving a S., ,446 990, ,644 ma
val supply bill, to strike out
House. inserted restriction agains
such purchases by the Navy.
But meanwhile the House hat
inserted in the pending supplement
al bill a provision restraining bot
Army and Navy purchases, although
the Army had not previously beer
so restricted. Some members pre-
dicted the Appropriations Commit
| toe would strike out this House pro.
vision, but Senate Minority Leadel
McNary said such action woult
meet with new opposition when thu
measure reaches the Senate floor.
OF the some $40, 600, ,OOO, 900 in tn
Government defense program, $29,
s12,600,0 1000 has been provided TO
already in appropriations and con
(See BRITISH AID, Page A-3)