Expanding U.S. Plane Factories

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 3, 4 January 1941, Page 4

Expanding U.S. Plane Factories

Huge Contracts Approved by President

SURVEY OF DEFENCE PREPARATIONS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copy righ t. Received Friday, 9.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, Jan. 2. President Roosevelt has approved four contracts totalling 70,000,000 dollars for the expansion of ueroplaue manufacturing facilities, increased production of aeroplane frames, engines, and superchargers. The largest of these contracts is 37,000,000 dollars to expand Btudebaker’s three plants iu Indiana and Illinois to produce Wright aeronautical motors, also 24,000,000 dollars to expand the Buick plant in Michigan to produce Pratt-Whitney aeroplane motors. The chairnfan of the House Military and Naval Affairs Committee announced that a complete survey would be undertaken of the naval and military defence preparations “in order to ascertain what kind of an answer we have got for Hitler.” Officials stated that the Government is considering lending or leasing merchant ships to Britain, also possibly taking over the British trade routes in the Pacific for the duration of the war. The indications are that there is an inclination to muke a deal if the British guaranteed that the United States could return to the North Atlantic trad® routes—at present “blacked out” by the neutrality law—after the war «n a pre-war basis. President Roosevelt held & conference with Mr. H. L. Stimson (War Secretary) when it is believed they discussed the proposal, also the speeding up of planes to Britain. It is disclosed that Coast Guard officials have .obtained complete information regarding 133 freighters owned by German countries now tied up in American ports. The Administration is studying the legal aspects involved in the possiblo acquisition of the ships.