UNITED STATES DEFENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 118, 17 April 1940, Page 7

UNITED STATES DEFENCE

HIGHER OUTLAY SOUGHT. Allt BASE IN ALASKA. Received April, 17, 9.20 a.m. WASHINGTON, April 16. Expressing the opinion that the spread of warfare abroad makes defence increases essential, the Washington correspondent of tho United Press of America says Administration leaders have agreed to ask the Senate to add 50 million dollars to the War Department Appropriation Bill, including four million dollars to begin the construction of an air base at Anchorage, in Alaska, and forty million dollars for the purchase of rifles and artillery. The navy has notified the Senate Naval Affairs Committee that American ’planes have demonstrated their superiority over comparable European types, although they arc slower than the new models now available to the Allies. The navy report added that, despite aircraft improvements, the battleship was still the backbone of the naval forces. The Chief of Naval Operations (Admiral 11. R. Stark), continuing his testimony before the Senate Naval Affair's Committee, recommended Congress to increase tho 966 million dollars appropriation that the House had approved by 45 million, of which 18 million would he for the purpose of improving ship facilities ashore and 27 million to lay tho keels of four cruisers, 13 destroyers and eight submarines this year.