U.S. War Planes For France

Northern Advocate, 20 February 1939, Page 7

U.S. War Planes For France

(Received 10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 19,

It is revealed that the Secretary for War, Mr H. H. Woodring, and the Assistant-Secretary, Mr Louis Johnson, protested against President Roosevelt’s instructions to co-operate with the French air mission in the buying of military aircraft, but. the President over-ruled them. Mr Roosevelt to-night admitted facilitating the purchases.

He declared that the transactions were perfectly legal, and France had a right to purchase the aeroplanes sold. The French air mission found only two types of American military aeroplanes they considered superior to the German, Mr H. Morgenthau, Secretary of the Treasury, told the' Senate Military Affairs Committee. He added that the French Governinent was prepared to spend 65,000,000 dollars if it could get 1000 of them by July 1. It was not stated, but it is presumed that he machines are the P. 40 Curtis-Wright fighter and the 7-B Douglas bomber. The mission was informed that it would be impossible to manufacture the machines in the time. Dutch naval and military missions are at present in Washington buying war equipment. •. < ' The army is seeking 100 GlennMartin aeroplanes, and an undisclosed number of Lockheeds.

It is understood the purchases by both missions total 300 aeroplanes, a considerable number anti-aircraft guns and other equipment.