Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-15
lend-Lease Bill
For Philippines
Wins First Test
BY ARTHUR HACHTEN
inti News servise stan Correspondent

ASHING TON. Feb. Is
Swift-moving events in the Orient
spurred the House naval affairs
committee into approval of a
Junior lend-lease" bill for the
Philippine Islands and a measure
TO authorize Sl86, ll5. 900 for ferti-
fieations at distant Guam, Samoa
and other strategic Pacific sites.
Admiral Harold r. Stark, chief
? of naval operations-highest rank
ing officer of the navy-was called
by the House naval affairs COM
mittee to appear before it today
in secret session for questioning on
the navy's proposals.
Meanwhile, top-ranking gov
eminent officer revealed that
Great Britain wants permission TO
overhaul and outfit five 10 10 de-
stroyers monthly in American
ports - permission Pres d en- [
Roosevelt can grant when ii. r.
1776. the about aid-Britain bill,
becomes law.
220 BRITISH DESTROYERS
Britain is reported TO have 900
destroyers in service. and they
must be put in dock at least once
every Is months for complete
overhauls While Britain has 81
yards capable of overhauling de-
stroyers. they are either working
al capacity on new ships or have
been damaged in raids and the
destroyer repair problem has be-
come a 'bottleneck.
Belief prevailed in naval circles
that in view of opposition of Secre-
tary Knox 10 any depletion in the
United States destroyer force. en-
. visaged by Wendell l.. Wilkes
lproposal to release five or 10 de-
'stroyers a month TO Britain, that
the alternative would be opening
American ship yards 10 repair
British destroyers.
The Junior lease-lend bill' APP
proved by the House naval COM
mittee would authorize the navy
10 lease. lend or sell TO the Philip
pines navel equipment. such as
torpedoes. Sn'ps are not included.
The navy department also would
he authorized 10 MAE repairs on
obsolete materials for tnc Philip
pines, but the islands government
would have TO pay all costs.
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
In other defense developments:
1-Indersecretary OF War Rob-
ert Patterson reported that
the army has sufficient officer
r personnel OF all categories TO
direct an army of $500 900 men,
and gave assurance there will
''be no officer shortage in the
present crisis" In contrast with
the 5000 eligible reserve officers
available for service upon United
States entrance in the World
War. last June there were 1Q5.-
900 such officers. Patterson said.
C-Authority to pass upon all
- special defense contracts in
excess OF S5O0.00O each before
awards are made was vested in
Donald ". Nelson Of Chicago,
director OF purchases of the
Office Of Production Manage
ment.
C-Asserting that concentra-
- ton OF power In business
and government was "freighted
with dangers to democracy"
Senator Mead Cd OF New York
introduced bill designed 10
facilitate credit for small bust
ness concerns so they can par
ticipate In the national defense
program. The bill would author
ize banks of the Federal Reserve
System to extend credit TO "any
deserving business enterprise"
IA plan TO strengthen 200
bridges in all sections of the
country. enabling them TO bear
the weight Of 40-ton tanks. was
announced by II. II. Kelly of the
Interstate commerce commits
sion. A. n step In the war de-
partments strategic road sys-
TEN, II IL proposed also 10
grade sizes and gross weight of
trucks uniformly In all states.