AMERICAN AIR LINES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 114, 16 May 1942, Page 6

AMERICAN AIR LINES

TAKEN OVER BY ARMY

(Rec. 2.20 p.m.)

WASHINGTON, May 15,

At his Press conference, President Roosevelt, discussing the army's taking over of all commercial air transport, explained that American forces were getting into the actual fighting more and more, and in new places all over the world. Therefore, he said, they urgently needed all available transport planes. Every kind of plane was being taken over, including "puddle jumpers" j and one- and two^nan ships. Mr. Roosevelt said that almost anything which could be flown was useful to the Government. The airline order means that domestic airline travel will be placed on a full wartime basis in the near future. Mr. Roosevelt recalled that a few years ago the American people got along without .lying services and without air mail, and suggested that they could get along with a limited amount of } such services now. UNNECESSARY USE. He believed that the people would understand the necessities of the war. and remarked that a fortnight ago a dozen people went to Washington from New York to see him on business not connected with the war or the Government, and that seven had used planes. That was all right, because the planes were running, but doubtless they would gladly have come by train to help the war effort.

Mr. Roosevelt said there was now an increasing necessity for curtailing private travel by plane. Asked if railway travel was likely to be aongested. Mr. Roosevelt said that more people would be sticking at their jobs this summer and not travelling either by car or train. Otherwise they could stand up in the trains.