DEFENCE BASES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23732, 12 August 1940, Page 8

DEFENCE BASES

AMERICA PREPARES .—: ,J PRESIDENT'S VISIT FULL PRODUCTION PLANNED '" ' I By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received August Ml, 7.5 p.m.) BOSTON, August 10 President Roosevelt has completed the first step in his inspection of tho New England defence bases. In a statement he said: "The inspection shows that we are .really getting into our stride.* I am very much satisfied with what I saw; things are going awfully well. "I hope that by the late autumn all the navy yards and army arsenals will he in full' production. The cheapest way to produce war materials is to run at full production. You save money in the long run by doing so." Frio'- to his tour, the President said ho would be accompanied by Colonel Donovan, the military expert who recently paid a visit to Britain to investigate the war effort there, and Colonel Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy. He declined to comment on Colonel Donovan's mission to Britain,, and said he would hear Colonel Donovan's report. Grave View of Situation The President emphasised the gravity with which he viewed the situation, saying that his tour of the defences would not be allowed to take him more than 12 Or 14 hours' train distance from Washington. According to an earlier message. President Roosevelt stated that it was a 100 to one chance against National Guards or American regular troops being assigned active service outside the United States or its possessions. Under the National Guard Mobilisation Bill, the President has power to assign them to duties in any part of the Western Hemisphere. Poor Aircraft Output Mr. H. L. Stimson, Secretary for War, told the Congressional Tax Committee that the War Department had been able to sign contracts for only 33 military aeroplanes, " although the moneys had been available for seven weeks to construct 4000 machines. Ho said the chief stumbling block was the lack of a satisfactory amortisation programme whereby manufacturers would receive tax concessions to repay them for expenses on necessary plant expansion. He said this difficulty had been encountered throughout the arms industry, but he denied that manufacturers were not co-operating. Mr. William S. Knudsen, co-ordinator of defence production, interviewed, said the present aeroplane production wa? 900 a month and should be 1500 by January. It would be increased steadily thereafter. Ho was of the opinion thatsubstantial deliveries of aeroplanes, tanks and guns would be made by February next. Extended Service Requested Colonel Knox has asked Congress to authorise the Navy Marine Corps to hold ndw recruits from now on for an indefinite period during any war or "declared national emergency," instead of for the present enlistment periods. It was reported from Washington on Thursday that Mr. Henry Morgenthau. Secretary to the Treasury, had forecast a record peace-time deficit of approximately 5,700,000.000 dollars, and had urged Congress to enact an excess profits tax immediately. Mr. Morgenthau pointed out that the defence appropriations and contract authorisations made and pending totalled 14,702,000,000 dollars. Senator Rufus C. Holman (Republican —Portland), speaking in the Senate, said: "I have learned from authoritative military sources of the imminent peril of au invasion of Alaska and the entire Pacific slope." Senator Morris Sheppard (Democrat —Texarkana) said that, according to reports, there, was imminent danger of a Japanese attack in Malaya. HAWAIIAN STATION NAVAL AND AIR NEEDS HONOLULU, August 9 The United States Navy is planning the largest naval and aviation base in the Hawaiian area, with a 2700-acre airport at Oahu Island to supplement the Ford Island field at Pearl Harbour. AUCKLAND GIFT £SOOO TO BENEVOLENT FUND LONDON, August 11 An Auckland firm has sent £SOOO to the British War Benevolent Fund in admiration for tho heroism of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Merchant Service.