Show Congress Leaders Place I Defense Plans ins N Near ear Top WASHINGTON Jan 26 AP Congressional AP-Congressional Congressional leaders placed a abroad broad program to strengthen land sea and air defenses near the top of their calendar today although the details remained a secret Chairmen of ot five house commit commit- tees ees who wh discussed the whole defense defense defense de de- de- de layout with President Roosevelt Roosevelt Roosevelt Roose Roose- velt yesterday Indicated he would ask congress in a few days for additIonal additional additional ad ad- funds for both the army I and navy Representative Taylor D D. D Colo one of the conferees said the message message message mes mes- sage probably would merely outline what he deemed necessary for the reinforcement of ot the army services leaving details to congress Talk Persists Mr Roosevelt told Taylor a few weeks ago that world events which have caused me growing concern might necessitate expansion of ot the navy Talk of legislation to authorize author author- ize about 40 additional warships of all types has persisted in congressional congressional congressional congress congress- ional circles There have been reports the present present present pres pres- ent ton treaty limitation on battleships would be scrapped but Chairman Vinson D. D Ga of ot the house naval committee declined to discuss the subject after he Che WhIteHouse White WhiteHouse WhiteHouse House meeting Influential forces in congress and the war department also have been urging that land and air forces be bolstered along with the fleet Considers Legislation The house military committee already already already al al- al- al ready is considering legislation to add about 2280 commissioned officers officers officers cers to army rosters Most of them would go to the air corps carps ChaIrman Chairman Chairman Chair ChaIr- man May D. D Ky said the legislation legislation legislation legis legis- lation ties in with the presidents president's plans The army high command also had advocated enlistment of more men and funds to increase its supply supply supply sup sup- ply of ot antiaircraft guns semiautomatic semiautomatic semiautomatic matic rifles tanks and planes The army budget for forthe forthe forthe the next fiscal year carried funds for enlisted men the same as at present General Malin Craig chief f of staff said in his bis annual re report report report re- re port that a minimum of was needed Secretary Woodring Assistant Secretary Johnson and other officials officials officials have said there is a lack of sufficient antiaircraft artillery The United States has probably the best antiaircraft guns in the world and the fewest fewest one war department department department de de- de- de official said General Craig urged as an Immediate immediate immediate Imme imme- diate objective the equipment o of five regular army regiments with such artillery as well as providing guns to train national guardsmen Five existing antiaircraft regiments have only partial equipment The army has been turning out less than semiautomatic rifles a week at the Springfield Mass 1 arsenal This rate should be materially materially materially ma ma- stepped up officials assert assert- ed They also have urged that light tanks which the army has adopted as a standard be produced more I rapidly at the Rock Island Ill ar ar- ar- ar senal |