DEFENCE OF AMERICA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 96, 22 March 1941, Page 8

DEFENCE OF AMERICA.

ENORMOUS AERO PRODUCTION. (2.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 21 The House Appropriations Committee to-day approved the fifth supplementary Army and Navy Appropriation Bill totalling approximately 400,000 million dollars.

It is revealed that the Army High Command has received nuv; and more exact data on the German Panzer Division operations in France last summer. General Marshall, testifying before the committee, said he planned to build the army forces to eight divisions and will create two more immediately funds are voted

The funds in the Bill include provision for expediting aeroplane production, which envisages 21,000 yearly, excluding the navy programme. The delivery of army planes will reach its maximum in October, but will start rolling very well in April and May. General Marshall said aircraft production costs had increased by 2u per cent. The army plans to spend eventually 188 million dollars oil new Atlantic bases from Britain.

Mr W. E. Knud6on (Defence Production Chief) told the Appropriations Committee: "If we had 2000 bombers of the largest type now we could fix things up over there." He did not aniplily his remark.

Mr Martin Dies, chairman of the House Committee Investigating UnAmerican Activities, said on the floor of the House to-day that the Federation of Architects, Engineers, Technicians and Chemists was, "as a whole, under the complete domination of the Communist Party." He said the union was affiliated with the C. 1.0. and operated in vital dele.ncc industries. The British and American Ambulance Corps are broadcasting to America and throughout the Empire a special programme entitled "Tribute to Valour," dedicated to the British Empire, in which Douglas Fairbanks, Junr., Ronald Coleman', Herbert Marshall and other Hollywood stars are participating, featuring the song at present sweeping England: "The iving is Still in London." It will be transmitted on short-wave from Boston at 11.30 a.m. (New Zealand time) on March 24.

A British Official Wireless message says it is announced that, pursuant to the recommendations of the United States and Canada Joint Defence Board, Canada is establishing air bases at Grande Prairie, Fort St. John, Port Nelson, Watson Lake, White Horse, Prince George, and. Smithers. The fields will provide all the necessary ground facilities for planes travelling from the United States or Canada to Alaska. •-....

It is understood all 50 American destroyers transferred to Britain are now in service.