Evening star., 1943-11-11

jCOIupdTd dDle values IN terms OF puf'
chasing power, man. hours of worl
or materials.
Dollar Values Of Lease Lend.
But In spite of the misconceptior
which may result from translatinf
the pound expenditure figures into
dollars at the official rates of ex.
change, think it is desirable to pro.
vide the Congress and the people oi
this country with the best available
indication as to the expenditures
made by the British Commonwealth
for reverse lease-lend aid.
Exclusive of the expenditures fol
supplies transferred in colonial the
aters of war, American forces have
received aid through reverse lease
lend channels for which the United
Kingdom made expenditures OF
$87l 100000 as of June 30, l943. as
follows:
Goods and services, 1881 900 900.
Shipping, $l69 100000.
Airports, barracks, hospitals and
other construction, $371, 100000.
Total, $871 100000.
We are all familiar with the role
which the 9th Air Force has played
in collaboration with the Royal All
Force, in preparing the way for the
invasion of Europe 1t Is not as
widely known that the operation OF
reverse iease-lend has made con-
tributions to the outstanding per-
formance of our air forces based In
the United Kingdom.
Under reverse lease-lend the Brit
ish have provided our bomber and
fighter commands with many neces-
sary items. Specially heated winter
flying clothing to protect bomber
crews from the intense colds suffered
at high attitudes was supplied by the
British to our air forces
When certain United States
fighter gun sights proved less efTec-
tive than the sights employed by
British fighters. the Royal Air Force
provided substantial number of
British-type sights for immediate
installation.
American bombers have been
equipped by the British with pho
tographic equipment effective in
obtaining photographs of the target
during the bomb run. The British
have also provided facilities for the
development and production of a
new type Of protective body armor
designed by our medical authorities.
Other Varieties of Aid.
A variety of other aid has also
been provided for our air forces by
the United Kingdom Mobile repair
shops located throughout the
United Kingdom recondition Amer
ican bombers forced to make crash
landings. A one-man dinghy, de-
veloped by the British for parachute
landing at sea, provides pilots of
American planes with a one-man
floating raft.
Specialized British radio equip
ment has been installed in Amer
lean planes which has given greater
safety to our bomber crews and has
improved the effectiveness of our
bombing missions.
For purposes of recognition train
ing, the Royal Air Force has de-
livered to the United States Air
Forces more than 10000 items of
aircraft. warship and armed We
hicle recognition devices. These
are but a few instances of the aid
which has been provided to our air
forces under reverse lease-lend and
without payment by us.
Australia and New Zealand have
supplied American forces in the
South and Southwest Pacific with
the bulk of their foodstuff require
ments on ration scale comparable
to the basic allowance of the Amer
ican Army. This program includes
fresh. dried and canned products,
and in some cases in the latter
category requires amounts ranging
up to 100 per cent of total Australian
production. The following are the
quantities of the principal types of
foodstuffs the United States has re-
ceived from Australia as reverse
lease-lend through June 30, 1943:
Meat, 100000 pounds.
Bread, biscuits and cereals, 48,l10,-
900 pounds.