America Swinging Info Action

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 142, 17 June 1941, Page 5

America Swinging Info Action

World’s Fastest Bomber for Britain

MEN AND MONEY FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRIES United Press Association—-By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Monday, 9 p.m. WASHINGTON, June 16. The Glen Martin Company held a successful test of the new bomber being built for Britain in the presence of British experts. Martin’s chief engineer (Mr. Joseph Harston) said it was as fast as most of the pursuit planes flying in Europe. “In actual combat we expect them to do better than many even of the latest types of pursuit planes. ’ ’ The bomber will be called the Baltimore by the British. Ie has two 1850 horsepower air-cooled motors. The first consignments go to Britain in July. The Martime Commission will take over to-morrow six Danish freighters in the first action under the new ship requisitioning law. The United States Office of Education has announced a “ no vacation policy” for trade and industrial schools training defence worker®. Many schools will operate a 24-hour day schedule. Representatives of 50,000 in east coast shipyards endorsed the Office of Production Management proposal that they agree s to abstain from strikes for two years. The agreement with the owners includes the provision for a 12 per cent, wage increase. ‘ ‘ American workers both organised and unorganised must be prepared .to welcome general and much-needed employment of their fellow-workers of all racial and national origins in the defence industries,” said President Roosevelt, who asserted that he had received complaints of nationwide discrimination against fully-qualified negroes and other minority racial and religious groups in the defence industries.

The President added that every available source of labour capable of producing defence material must be tapped in the present emergency. He requested the Office for Production Management to take immediate steps to facilitate the full utilisation of the nation’s productive manpower. The Office for Production Management announced that commercial firms and banks had lent a total of 1,093,000,000 dollars to defence manufacturers.