Evening star., 1941-08-13
Fight Is Anticipated
In Senate 10 Revive
Army Ordnance Fund
Senate Committee
Rejects $1,347 ,W0, 900
For Pool Of Weapons
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The War Department faced the
threat of a major congressional set
back today as a result of unanimous
rejection by the Senate Appropria-
tions Committee of a request for
81 BAT 900, 900 to buy special ord
nance items.
They were indications that ad-
ministration pressure might be
brought to bear to reverse the COM
mittee's action of yesterday in
eliminating the ordnance item
already sanctioned by the House
before approving s6,s2s 1876 ,s48
supplemental defense money bill.
Army officials had told the COM
mittee the fund was to be used to
purchase tanks, anti-aircraft guns,
anti-tank guns and other mechan-
lied equipment for force In addi-
ton to the potential 5000, ,00O-man
army for which the War Depart
ment now is accommodating supplies.
Sought Emergency Pool.
Senator Adams, Democrat, OF
Colorado, who led the fight against
the 81 BAT 100000 item, told reporters
the committee felt the Army ought
to concentrate on getting equip
ment for the 100000 before 1t
started purchases for an additional
group. He observed, also, that much
of the equipment which would have
been purchased with the fund might
be obsolete by the time 1t was de-
livered.
Undersecretary of War Robert P.
Patterson had urged that the ap-
propria ton be made so that pool
of mechanical equipment would be
available in case of an emergency.
He said also that the War De-
partment wanted additional orders
placed so that firms making ord
nance could know that they were
going to have contracts which would
carry them through until the end
of 1s43, just as plane manufac-
turers were assured Of longtime
airplane production program.
To Call Up Bill Tomorrow.
Beyond this. Mr.. Patterson warned
the committee that the United
States ought not to be caught
short" in tanks and other equip
ment if world conditions worsened.
He said it would take long time
to manufacture the 4.600 medium
tanks, 1.500 light tanks and 1000
anti-aircraft guns which would be
bought with the special fund.
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota, who had suggested that
the Army might be requesting this
equipment because it envisioned
possible expeditionary force. said
he was gratif1ed that the committee
had eliminated the special fund.
But another opponent. Senator
Johnson, Republican. of California.
said he feared the Senate might
put the money back into the bill if
the administration chose to make
an issue of the action. Senator
Adams planned to call the bill up
before the Senate tomorrow.
Balloon Training Center.
The Senate committee added
SIP 900 900 to the bill which partly
offset the huge reduction in the
special ordnance item, a cut Sena-
tor Adams said probably was the
largest ever made by the commit
tee. 1t approved a $50 .807. 400 addi-
tion for facilities for new Army
camps, including barrage balloon
training center.
Miscellaneous additions to the
bill included s12, 10000 for the Civil
Aeronautics Authority for develop
ment of landing areas and air navi-
cation facilities.
The Interior Department was
given s1,928,00 additional, of which
81 .250.000 would go into the con-
struction of helium plants. s350,0O0
into an investigation of raw ma
terial resources for Western steel
production and $500 900 into an in
quiry into domestic sources of min
eral supplies.