UNDELIVERED WAR PLANES

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXIV, Issue 6577, 17 October 1939, Page 3

UNDELIVERED WAR PLANES

WHAT HIE U.S.A. ARMS

EMBARGO MEANS

700 airplanes, destined for

d: 'ivery to Britain and France, are

b;ld up by application of the arms

embargo states a Weshir.gton message

i:. September. That is the approxi-

mate measire of the tangible effect

cf the embargo on the Allies

But the intangible effect, the effect on governmental and public opinion, may be much greater. Both British and French souiees here, far from buoyantly expecting the embargo to be lifted soon, are gloomily only hoping for'the best. The French here seem in the greatest state of dejection, taking the view that the United States—great defender of democracy —has failed them in their hour of need.

Reports that both British and French Governments are placing orders for moie aircraft, expectant of the lifting of the embargo, which were printed in various papers, seem far from the actual facts. Both embassies denied the reports. Spokesmen for the aircraft industry denied them. They suggested that the reports may have been based on certain queries that have been made as to possible productive capacity when, as, and if the embargo is lifted.

Including a-large aviation order placed by the British with the CurtissWright Compary about a year ago, on which deliveries have been completed, it is roughly true that about half the aircraft orders placed within this period) by the British and French have already been completed, thus escaping the embargo. Here is the situation in the big four companies with which orders were placcd: Douglas Aircraft Company: 100 planes for the French, undelivered. Glenn L. Martin Company: 215 planes for the French, one delivered. Lockheed Aircraft Corporation: 400 planes for the British, upward 0':. 75 per cent delivered. Eighty planes for the Australians, none delivered. North American Aviation Inc.: about 80 planes for the British, about 130 for the French, none delivered. There were also some other scattering orders understood to have been delivered. The Vought-Sikorsky Division of United Aircraft had on order 20 amphibians or seaplanes for the French, and a repeat of about the sams number, of which total about half are understood to have been de-

livered. ,