PLAN TO TRAIN AIRMEN

Southland Times, Issue 24438, 19 May 1941, Page 7

PLAN TO TRAIN AIRMEN

BRITONS TO GO TO AMERICA THOUSANDS TO BE ENTERED (Rec, 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 17. Officials said today that the War Department had approved a plan under which United States Army Air Corps schools will train thousands of British pilots. The plan includes: (1) The immediate use of the primary and basic training facilities in private civilian flying schools now training American pilots. (2) The British will contract with six schools building new facilities, for which the United States army is supplying planes and equipment while the British will pay the instructors and personnel.

(3) Advanced training at the Maxwell, Moffat and Randolph fields, but not including combat training. Officials emphasized that British flyers are expected from all parts of the Empire. They will enter the schools as civilians, not as members of the Royal Air Force in order to comply with United States laws.

Colonel Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, addressing a graduating class at the Naval College today, said:

“We intend to maintain the right of ever improving the lot of the common man, even though we waste our substance in wars defending its maintenance. Even when Germany is defeated there may be another Hitler 20 years hence if the world again relinquishes its policing power. Hie war of 1914-18 was not a war to end war. It is foolish to suppose that this one is any different. It is the responsibility of all of us to see that in the future the Navy will never be allowed to decline.” In an interview Colonel Knox was asked whether selective service men would be used for expanding the Navy’s man-power. “We cannot make sailors in a single year, but if an emergency need arises we will use them,” he said. Asked if he would ensure the delivery of materials to Britain, his answer was a definite “Yes.” Asked what the method of insurance would be, he replied: “Use your head. In the last war there was only one menace—the submarine. This time there are three—the submarine, the surface raider, and the aeroplane.” RECRUITING MEN FOR NAVY The Navy announced a six weeks’ drive to recruit 35,000 men needed for new warships completing ahead of schedule. It has raised the age limit of reservists to 50. The total navy personnel is now 227,000. A strike occurred in four General Motors plants this morning. The union president, Mr Thomas, flew to Flint and will address a mass meeting in order to persuade 34,000 men to return to work.

A Detroit message says that General Motors announced a strike had closed the Chevrolet Greyiron foundry at Saginaw, which is employing 4800 men. The Immigration Service announced that hundreds of Federal agents' in at least nine cities are taking into custody an undetermined number of foreign seamen, believed mostly to be Italians and Germans, who will be charged with overstaying their sixty days’ leave in the United States. The cites are New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and San Francisco. This is described as a continuation of the roundup of May 7, when 150 Germans were taken into custody.