FIGHTING PLANES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 November 1940, Page 5

FIGHTING PLANES

UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE 26,000 PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S CALL. CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL FACTORIES. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) BOSTON, October 30. President Roosevelt announced that he was clearing the way for Britain to reinforce the Royal Air Force with 26,000 American-made planes, comprising; 14,000 already on order, plus an additional 12,000 to which lie had asked the Defence Priorities Board to give “most sympathetic consideration.” He said that,’ as a result, he required additional plant facilities to make the United States the strongest air Power in the world. he reiterated that American youths would never be sent to a European war. President Roosevelt said that despite three . months’ aerial blitzkreig,. the R.A.F. was actually stronger today than at the outbreak of the attack, largely because of American replacements. “The British have now asked for permission to negotiate again with American manufacturers for 12,000 additional planes,” he added. President Roosevelt -said his move to send more planes to Britain was premised on the objective of attaining a productive capacity of 50,000 planes annually in the United States, adding: “In taking these orders for planes to go overseas we are following hardheaded self-interest.” The President said he was also giving approval to large additional British orders for artillery, machine-guns, rifles and tanks with equipment and ammunition.

The productive capacity of the United States would not fail. He said that in 10 months the aeroplane engine output had increased 240 per cent. Brand new plants for planes and engines were being built in the Middle West. “When these additional orders are approved they... will bring Britain’s present orders for military planes from the United States to more than 26,000. They will require still more plant facilities so that the present programme of both the United States and Britain is not to be interrupted.” RISING DELIVERIES SOON TO REACH 800 A MONTH. LONDON, October 31. It has been disclosed in Washington that the United States sent 500 warplanes to Britain this month. The total is expected to reach 800 a month by December.