Evening star., 1942-01-23

and II more being built; 81 cruisers,
and "a more being built; I'll destroy
ers, and 1913 more being built; 113
| submarines, and 73 more being built.
BY November, 1941, the Navy had
commissioned rs new combatant
ships, added 1000 planes to its han
gars and aircraft carriers. Its new
chain Of overseas bases now extends
far into both oceans. It had en-
rolled 5000 new officers and more
than IL times as many men.
In the 10 months prior to the
opening of the war, 345 new COM
Blatant ships were under construc-
ton, as we'll as 96 auxiliary craft,
243 mine craft, 225 patrol boats and
other floating equipment. At the
beginning of 194l, 70 private yards
were building ships for the Navy.
BY November there were 1873 yards
not including the Navy's own 86
yards engaged in this work.
The Navy's plane complement OF
5000 has been increased. Before
the war began, the Navy and Marine
Corps had 5000 pilots. Thousands
more were in training. The Navy
alone has "a air stations.
Speaking Of the great increase In
naval shore establishments, the r.
port said that American sailors and
marines are now serving IN New
foundland, at Great Exuma Island
in the Bahamas, at Antigua, ia
maica, st. Lucia and Trinidad in
the Caribbean, and in British
Guiana in South America, and IN
"far flung" bases in the Pacific
Ocean. Nearly half a billion dol
lars was spent in developing our
bases last year." 1t added. And 1t
pointed out that American ports
have been shared by nations resist
ing Axis aggression.
It pointed out that the Navy's task
today is two-fold, that 1t has the
greatest battle of its life on its
hands, and also tremendous job OF
patroling. 1t is at war with Japan
in the Pacific. with Germany IN the
Atlantic and with Italy in the Medi-
terranean. At the same time 1t
must police with Britain the sea
lanes from Iceland to the bulge OF
South America. 1t must police the
Pacific Ocean as far as Singapore.
Fighting ships which might
otherwise be used to attack the jap
anese Navy must serve as two
great mobile arcs of steel guarding
all our continental coastline," the
report said.
Army Expanded Skiold.
The American Army has undergone
a skiold expansion since the spring
of 1910. On January Is the Secre-'
tary Of War announced another ex-
pansion, the largest Of all, to $780,
600 men by the end of this year. To
shelter this great new Army, pro-
vide air bases and new Notifications,
the Army has already completed $50
construction projects-more than
$4,000 buildings in $50 areas.
The report pointed out that in
September, 1889, I'VE did not possess
q munitions industry Of any great
significance" Nearly a billion dollars
worth of new munitions plants are
now in full operation. Several BILL
lion dollars worth Of additional mu-
nitions plants are now on their way
to completion.
"The sun never sets on the men
and materials of the Lease-Lend Act.
passed by Congress q scant 10
months ago.. said the report, de-
claring this act q unique war
weapon" The men who fight or
labor under its provisions range
from British pilots trained IN the
United States to steam.shovel men
at work on bases in the cold and fog
Of Northern Ireland"
Mentioning some Of the myriad
uses of lease-lend funds, the re-
port said they are being spent to
build British bases at Rangoon, that
Pan American Anyways has received
subsidy for a new route across the
South Atlantic, and another lease
lend airline reaches to Iceland.
Last March only $4,000, 900 was
given in lease-lend aid. BY Novem-
ber, 1e41, this swelled to $283, ,000, 900
a month.
Already $1,000, ,000, 900 has been ex-
pended for lease-lend aid, of which
half was for exports Of all kinds OF
material. Future exports will be
gigantic when we achieve al-out war
production A total of $4,000, ,O00,-
900 OF the lease-lend appropriations
are for aviation, another $4,000, ,000,-
900 for shipping. and for war on the
land, $4,000, 100000. j
Frozen Funds . Factor. Y
Economic warfare, described as
"the silent war;" has progressed far.