HELP FOR ALLIES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21138, 13 June 1940, Page 10

HELP FOR ALLIES

PLANES FROM AMERICA SPEEDING UP PRODUCTION BIG OUTLAY ON DEFENCE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright > NEW YORK, June 11 After a conference with Mr W. S. Knudsen, head of General Motors Corporation, Mr Edsel Ford, president of the Ford Motor Company, stated that he saw no reason why a great emergency company could not produce 5000 aeroplanes' daily. The United States Senate, by 67 votes to 18, decided to allow the army to trade in surplus military equipment and munitions to manufacturers for re-sale to the Allies. It is reliably stated that the War Department has ordered that 93 Northrop attack aeroplanes shall be flown to Houlton, Maine, from various parts of the United States for shipment to Canada without the formality of first presenting them to the Douglas Aircraft Company, although the Douglas Company is crediting the Army with them under the trade-in plan. The aeroplanes were manufactured in 1933-34. Sale Without Profit The United States Steel Corporation announced that a subsidiary company was re-selling immediately to the Anglo-French Purchasing Mission surplus munitions and ordnance valued at 37.600.000 dollars. This material was bought from the War Department. It is stated that the transaction Is being carried out without profit and that the transfers will be made at cost price. The House of Representatives has completed action on the Vinson Bill, authorising an increase of 11 per cent in the fighting fleet of the United States Navy. The bill was

• passed by the Senate last week and \ ! was returned to the House of Rep- ; resentiatives for concurrence in i amendments. It has now been sent ; to the President for his approval. Money For Defence The Appropriations Committee of r the House of Representatives has ? reported a 1,706.000,000 dollars sup- ) plementary Defence Bill, with funds -i to increase the regular army to 5 375,000 men and to permit the navy r to start the construction of 68 new s \ warships. This provides for an ex- | penditure of 319.000.000 dollars in | excess of President Roosevelt's last J emergency requests, due to the in- • elusion of an item of 322,000,000 [ dollars required to finance the army - ! increase. r ; The committee has also eliminated - 2,290,000 dollars from minor rel ' quests, including the construction of - j three dirigibles, and the provision of . floating equipment at Canton Island. : , The Senate approved the conj ference report on the Army Approj priation Bill, involving 1,823,000,000 j dollars. This measure, which has been sent to the President, includes : provision for 2566 military aeroplanes, of which 200 are to be ! “super-bombers.”