Imperial Valley press., 1941-02-18
by Peter Edison
The Inside Track in Washington,

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 - If the
class in simple arithmetic will now
come to attention. an attempt will
be made to see how many de-
stroyers. bombing planes and cargo
vessels can be bought for 81 300 600
600.
Everyone in Washington talks so
glibly in terms of millions and bill
lions, all the time, you would think
any of the experts could give you
the answer to that one, right off
but such is not the case.
This problem, by the way, is not
out of order. 1t was placed on the
blackboard for two reasons:
First: Wendell Willkie, in his
testimony before the Senate For
eign Affairs Committee, stated
that Britain needed destroyers,
planes and transports above all
else.
Second: The House of Rerpre-
sentatives. in passing the lease
lend bill on to the Senate, insert
ed on it final day Of discussion
an amendment proposed by Dem
ocratic John w. Mccormack CT
South Boston, Mass, authorizing
the President to tranfer defense
articles to other governments, but
with this kicker on the end:
-. The value OF defense ar
ticles disposed of procured
from funds heretofore appropriated
shall not exceed 81 .3O0,00000O.
The purpose of the amendent
was to put a curb ON the President
and prevent him from giving away
= b. blank check" the whole navy
OF airforce. as his opponents fear
ed he might. Four billion and
seven billion-dollar limits had also
been proposed, but the figure OF
81 300 600 900 was inserted as repre-
senting approximately 10 per cent
of the current defense effort which
now runs between IL and 13 bill
lions. If the Senate keeps that ST.
300,000,0O0 figure, the United States
is limited to 10 per cent-all-out-
aid-to- Britain" and the problem
arises as to just what she's going
to get for 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 S500,000,OO worth
OF war tools" which Prime Mini
ster Churchill called for in his re-
cent address, there is left from the
Sl,300,000,000 only s800,00O,00 for
destroyers, planes and ships.
Navy Secretary Knox has frown-
ed on more destroyers for Britain
at this time. but if we were to
give another so destroyers from the
l59 we already have or the so new
ones under construction, figuring
a destroyer as worth $8,000000, tho
so would cost $400, 600 900 and leave
S400 900, 900 for planes and ships.
British losses I'm merchant ship
ping since beginning of the war
have averaged $4,000 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.
100000 tens year which is Gu
riously enough, about half our ex-
istine tonnage in ocean-going yes
sells, though we have 200 merchant
ships of 3.135O00 gross tons on
order.
Costs OF shipping vary widely.
In the last four months the navy
has bought four 6000-ton cargo
vessels at more than S2,000,000 each
or 1888 q ton. Todd Shipyardl
Corporation, however, has a con-
tract TO build 100000 tons Of ship
ping for the British at a total
cost of si00,000,000 or sl66 a ton.
Taking this latter and smaller fig