SPAIN & BLOCKADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 31, 6 February 1941, Page 10

SPAIN & BLOCKADE

Climax to Press Campaign

(Received February 6, 2 p.m.) MADRID, February 5. As the climax to Press criticism of the British blockade as a contributing factor in Spain's shortage of food, the newspaper "Arriba" says:— "The moment has arrived when action must succeed words and a wrathful offensive must replace prudent defence if we are to improve our present circumstances at home and abroad. Only in a revolutionary and military atmosphere will Spain find strength. She urgently needs to break the blockade of those who are trying to paralyse her for ever."

Curtiss Hawk 75-A, known to Americans as the PT-36. single-seater fighter, the Curtiss Hell Diver twin-seater scout bomber, and the Northrup A-17 attack bomber. The Hudsons are famous, and the P-40 has won high praise from Lord Beaverbrook, but ;of the others nothing has been said. Others Delivered. Also in process of delivery in the last two months have been the Flying Fortress, the big Consolidated fourmotored bomber which is probably as good or better; the Vought-Sikorsky naval dive bomber, and three types of. fighter, the Lockheed P-38 twinmotored plane, the Grumman fighter, and the Bell Airacobra. Consolidated flying-boats are also reported to have been shipped. Preparation of the huge bombers for use over Germany is probably what lies behind a recent promise of heavier blows to be directed against the Reich soon. , . ■ With these and other types moving towards higher figures the strength of Britain in the air is obviously to be increased at a growing rate. The change is due to the long-continued process of building up the American aeroplane industry. In the past year, despite confusion due to the complete change in United States plans, working floor space has been doubled, staffs tripled (they are now 164,000 strong), and production hoisted 100 per cent. Behind Schedule. At present the rate of production is believed to be about 425 a month. Higher figures were hoped for, but on December 13 Mr. William S. Knudsen, who now heads the arms production drive in the United States, revealed that the production programme was running 30 per cent, behind schedule. The present belief in the United States is that the figure of 1000 planes a month will not be attained until late this.year. However, this is subject to revision if the industry decides to work longer hours as is growing increasingly likely. At present the chief things that can be said for the American aeroplane industry are that it is undertaking a scheme for colossal expansion, that it has been given certain definite types of planes on which to concentrate (the striving for "something better" which has kept down production figures appears to have ended) and that, after a good deal of preliminary exploration work, an aircraft production programme has been accepted. Even two months ago those statements could not have been made with confidence. Rapid Work. There is no doubt that American ingenuity and organisation are equal to surprising the world. An example of this was provided by the new Mar-tin'B-26, the latest and most advanced medium bomber. This machine was moving down the production line at the Baltimore plant of the Glenn L. Lartin factory on December 16, only three weeks after it was first announced, it is reported. It is described as faster than most of the fighters at present in use in Europe, with a power-driven turret (some time ago, it appears, the British gave the plans of their poweroperated turret to the Americans), protective armour for the crew, a new self-sealing tank, and heavy armament. With a full bomb-load its speed is said to be 340 miles ah hour. J