New-York tribune., 1922-12-24

turn out supplies IN case Vi Az e"''f
geney.
"We prepared for war in 1917 with
the Allies holding the line until VIC
could make ready" Mr.. Weeks wrN.e
"In the fall Of 1918 the war was cost
ing the United States 100000 an
hour. Planning In peace FOR war means
not only the saving OF the life blood Of
our youth. but every hour We can
shorten such a conflict means S2.0o0,-
600 removed from the shoulders Of the
taxpayers"
Plans Laid for Expansion
To put into effect the mobilization
Of the industries OF the nation there
has been established between the War
Department and American industrial
life points Of contact that will provide
for immediate wartime expansion and
production.
"We are reaching out over the coun-
try 10 gauge and measure the existing
manufacturing capacity and TO Spprnise
the war load each section is able 20
carry" Secretary Weeks said. "ord-
nance districts have been demarked,
and in each q civilian leader, a man
high in the business life Of his COM
munity. In touch with the instant situ-
alton Of industry around him day by
day, has volunteered his services as
district chief. Through him il Is
hoped that immediate and close con-
tact can be maintained continuously
with all the industrial phases and re-
sources Of each district. And through
these men also a beginning Is made
toward that one certainty Of success
civilian control Of wartime indus
trial mobilizAtion-as there will be
again beyond question civilian control
Of the selection Of our young men who
are TO fight.
Il have spoken first Of our ordnance
problem because IL Is here we have
been able 70 make the most headTay
thus far The ordnance districts,
marked out In relation to the peace
time industrial establishments avail
able IN each district for ordnance pro-
duetion, are thirteen In number, and
are knoTn, respectively, as the Bslti-
more, Boston, Bridgeport, Chicago,
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, New
York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Roehes-
ter. San Francisco and ST. Louis dis
triets. To each civilian district chief
has been assigned a regular army ord
nance ohieer as executive assistant,
and In addition there are some thou
sands OF reserve ordnance officers scat
tered through the districts and through
whom We hope to maintain close con-
tact with individual manufacturers and
their work.
with aircraft there can be no
thought Of placing in storage even
that proportion Of necessary reserves
ns we have been able to do with guns
Of all sizes and with tanks aud motor
trucks and ammunition and a thou
sand other things the army would need
in war. The cost Of aviation reserves
in any way adequate would be stag
gering. And even II we had the planes
to-day, tomorrow might see them use
less for war purposes by reason Of
overnight developments in the science
Of flying.
Plans Laid for Aviation
"The logical solution. Of course. is
to foster commercial development; TO
create the demand for a peaee-time in
dustry. What we have been able to
DO in that way the War and Navy de-
partments have done.
at Is difficult 10 realize just what
the waste in aircraft In ordinary use
amounts 10. War wastage at the front
reaches 80 per cent a month. Il is
proportionately heavy In peace time.
To-day there remain but 1900 Lib
erty motors Of the number built during
the war, and the vast machinery then
building motors has disappeared. No
Liberty motor Is under construction
to-day In the United States. There is
no market for them.
"A tentative plan for organizing ayi-
alton industrial districts Is In the
making. Il would provide seven dis
triet headquarters under a chief Of
aviation procurement In the air sery.
ice at Washington.
The plans for procuring clothing,
foodstuifs and transportation By wagon
or motor truck or automobiles, and All
the other supplies and amy uses, are
being dealt with by the army supply
service concerned under the supervi-
sion Of Colonel wainwright's oaiee.p