AMERICAN AID

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 210, 13 June 1940, Page 6

AMERICAN AID

ARMS, BOMBERS AND EQUIPMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SALE. QUANTITIES ALREADY BOUGHT. * (United Press Association. —Copyright 1 (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON, June 12. The President’s secretary (Mr Stephen Early) announced the turning over to private enterprise of the Army s reserve of manufacturing . equipment for the immediate production of sizeable quantities of smokeless powder, ammonia, and small arms ammunition. Mr Early added that the War Department reported excellent progress in surveying material and supplies that could be declared as surplus. These will be turned over to a subsidiary company for sale to the Allies. A further SO Northrup bombers have been released to the Allies. Army and Navy ‘planes destined for the Allies now total 263. The Army disclosed that between 5,000,000 and 10,000,000 dollars worth of technical equipment has been turned over. It is learned that the Allies sought to buy outright, but the Army preferred to sell to private manufacturers in order to expedite production of both American and foreign orders. It is authoritatively learned that the Allies have already bought 800 “seven-ty-fives” and 600,000 Enfields, quantities of machine-guns, mortars and munitions.

A Defence Commission spokesman said that Mr Ford had discussed mass production of engines rather than of aircraft. ,