DANGER TO AMERICA

Evening Star, Issue 23836, 17 March 1941, Page 7

DANGER TO AMERICA

“HUNGRY AXIS HORDES” HUGE NAVAL PROGRAMME IMPORTANCE OF SEA POWER Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright . WASHINGTON, March 14. Mr James Scrugham, chairman of the Naval Appropriations Sub-commit-tee, urging Die approval of a huge naval programme, told the House that the United States faces certain attack by hungry Axis hordes' from Europe and Asia unless gigantic defence armament is. created swiftly, regardless of the aid given to Britain. He added that the war had now substantially reached a deadlock, but the ultimate decision would rest on sea power, aided by air mastery. “ It is useless to pretend that England’s fight has nothing to do with us,” Mr Scrugham said. “ It has everything to do with us. Hitler has probably reached his maximum strength, and his success or failure largely hinges on what the United States Congress does in the 1 next few months. “ The United States,” he added, “ must strongly aid the hard-pressed British.” A vote of 3,446,000,000d0l was passed without opposition. PRODUCTION PROGRESS SPEEDING UP IN FACTORIES NEW TYPE OF DIVE BOMBER NEW YORK, March 14. The Curtiss Wright Company has announced a new type of scout divebomber designed for the use of the navy from aircraft carriers. It is an all-metal, - low-wirig monoplane with a Wright' Cyclone 1,700 horsepower engine, i It is heavily armed, and will carry a bomb* load twice as heavy as the present dive-bombers. It has folding wings and, hydraulicallyoperated controls. The new plane will soon he in mass production. A message from Detroit records that Ford officials stated that the now 21,000,OOOdol ‘plant to manufacture Pratt-Whitney air engines will begin limited production within three weeks. A survey by the United Press revealed that plants which will he valuable : in producfmg , tanks and guns are being erected in. half the time required before the war. Huge additions to, existing factories for bombers are under assembly, and trucks and shells are being made at an astonishing speed. The Packard Company—warned by the Government last summer that it was “impossible” to build a Rolls Royce 1 plane engine factory within 10 months—has two sections nearly completed and a third over half-done. Production will he started with 9,000 engines in July. GIL STOCKS IN THAILAND ACTION BY AMERICAN COMPANIES SAIGON, March 16. (Received March 17, at 8 a.m.) The • Standard Oil Company was reported to-day to bevelling all its stored products in the area recently ceded to Thailand with the intention of moving out.. The Shell Corporation, with larger holdings in the same area, is also said to be removing property from the ceded territory before Thailand takes possession. FRENCH AFRICAN RAILWAY VICHY CABINET’S DECISION VICHY. Marclj 16. (Received March 17, at 8 a.m.) Cabinet has. decided to construct a railway connecting North Africa with French West Africa.