HUGE OUTLAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 January 1940, Page 5

HUGE OUTLAY

ON AMERICAN DEFENCE EQUIPMENT ALL-TIME PEAK REACHED IN 1939. AIR FORCE AND NAVY EXPANSION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. WASHINGTON, January 2. The annual report of the War Department says that the augmentation and acceleration of national defence reached an all-time peak in 1939. Nearly 450,000,000 dollars was spent on military equipment. The expenditure on fighting equipment alone during the current fiscal year will approximate 373,000,000 dollars. A total of 736 aeroplanes, valued at 39,000,000 dollars, was delivered to the air corps last year. Also 983 four-engined bombers and pursuit and other planes have been ordered for expansion of the air corps to 6000 planes. These are to be completed by next June. Production orders have been placed as follows: Anti-aircraft sound locators, 400 per cent increase; threeinch anti-aircraft guns, 210 per cent, increase; anti-aircraft machine-guns, 140 per cent increase; semi-automatic rifles, 153 per cent increase; anti-air-craft fire control directors, 130 per cent increase. President Roosevelt has appointed Mr Charles Edison Secretary of the Navy. Mr Edison is a strong advocate of a larger navy. He has acted as Secretary since the death of Mr C. A. Swanson. Mr Carl Vinson, chairman of the House Naval Affairs Committee, announced that hearings on the Naval Bill, which seeks the construction of. 95 combatant and 31 auxiliary vessels, would begin on January 8. He added that the Committee would explore the proposal of Representative M. J. Maas for - super-battleships of 80,000 tons, mounting 20-inch guns. The Washington correspondent, of the United Press states that sentiment is developing in Congress for increasing the size of the two 45,000-ton ships for which funds have already been allocated. The correspondent adds that the Navy has been asked to submit estimates on craft up to 65,0000 tons. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times" says the agitation in Congress to build warships up to 80,000 tons is receiving little, if any, support in naval circles. Mr Vinson said that personally he feels the idea is a pipe dream. The ships would cost 150.000.000 dollars. It would also be necessary to enlarge the Panama Canal and provide new dry docks. NEW MINISTER’S POLICY DESIRE TO ACCELERATE CONSTRUCTION. (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) WASHINGTON. January 2. Ater being sworn in. Mr Edison said he was studying means of accelerating warship construction and also assembling data as lo the feasibility of constructing battleships up to 80.000 tons. It was too early to reach a conclusion.