TO ENSURE PEACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23362, 30 November 1937, Page 9

TO ENSURE PEACE

ARMED FORCES ESSENTIAL THE POSITION IN AMERICA REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) WASHINGTON, Nov. 28. (Received Nov. 29, at 5.5 p.m.) Mr H. H. Woodring (Secretary for War), in his annual report to President Roosevelt, which is regarded as the bluntest for years, urged a further strengthening of the armed forces as the best means of securing peace in "an uneasy world made restless by actual and potential warfare." He recommended that the Air Force be maintained virtually on a wartime basis with an increase of enlisted officers to 14,500 and of the enlisted personnel to 165,000, an increase in the national guard to 210,000, the strengthening of the coast artillery, the enrolling of a reserve consisting of 150,000 enlisted specialists, and a revision of the pay schedule to a scale comparable with that in civil life.

" I certainly do not recommend that we join the feverish arms race," he said. " Our national policy is wholly defensive. However, I believe as insurance against attack we should strengthen the forces." He stated that the army at present possessed 1000 new planes, with an additional 1000 ordered, towards the goal of 2310 by June, 1940. "In the event of a major war the Air Force would probably be engaged immediately after the opening of hostilities. Therefore, it is desirable to keep the Air Force almost on a war footing in peace time. The quality of the new planes is at least equal to and probably superior to any military planes in the world. The army is the most efficient in peace-time history, but is relatively weaker than last year because other nations have increased their military strength at an enormous rate."