Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-29
WAR PRODUCTION
PLAN IS REVISED
Raw Material and Commodity
Situation Is Said to Need
Constant Study.

"The task of insuring that our In
dustrial organizations and establish
ments are prepared to turn promptly
from their peace-time tasks, to produc-
ton Of supplies essential for wartime
needs, is under development and revi-
sion," according to Col. F. H. Payne.
Assistant Secretary of War, in his an
nual report made public today.
He added that specific procurement
plans are being prepared for those
items which would present problems
of procurement in time of an emer-
& ncy; at present there are 1876 items
listed and special procurement plans
have been completed for about one
half of them.
In order to produce certain essen
tial items of non-commercial char
acter, he said, many factories must first
undergo extensive plant alterations.
That requires preparation of factory
plans which has been done in the cases
of 261 factories.
Decided Progress Made.
Decided progress has been made"
Mr.. Payne said, I'm developing the pic
ture Of the strategic raw material and
commodity. situation, which to a great
extent is constantly changing and
therefore requires constant study. Based
upon World War experience, certain
raw materials and commodities have
been classified as strategic, due to the
necessity Of relying upon foreign
sources for either all or part OF our
total requirements. From military
standpoint, these materials and COM
modities vary in importance, but the
20 ~ fk1af classified q gtTlfARlE
indicates Immediately that they are
essential to military operations and
that shortage or absence OF supply
would have a result varying from en-
barrasSment to military operations TO q
possible serious interference.
1.-THE attention attracted to the prob
lem of strategic raw materials, as a re-
suit of activities of the Office Of the
Assistant Secretary of War, has mate
rally benefited the military situation
that would exist in an emergency.
Outstanding engineers, business men,
technical periodicals, engineering so
cieties and Government bureaus have
had their attention called to this prob
lem and have helped materially in
crystalliztng the solution.
Many Phases are Overcome.
war Department arsenals and ex-
perimental stations also have considered
the problem and have been successful
in overcoming many difticult phases.
In order to accelerate industrial PLAN
ming it is recommended that the legis-
lative restriction limiting personnel on
this duty to the largest number en-
ployed IN the previous fiscal year be
eliminated from future legislation"
During the past year, says the As
sistant Secretary, there has been a
marked increase of public interest In
national military parks, national mon
uments and national cemeteries, and
improvements in these parks have kept
pace with that interest. Markers and
monuments to mark the hattlehelds
have been placed in all established
parks. During the year, considerable
progress was made in the preliminary
work of acquiring land for the Fort
Donelson and Stones River Parks. Ac-
tive construction work will be carried
forward as expeditiously as land Is &C
quired.
The Fredericksburg and Petersburg
National Military Parks are being plan
ned and established under the direction
of commissions appointed under the
law for this purpose:
Unknown Soldier Tomb Discussed.
In closing his report, Mr.. Payne said
that Congress has provided 1880 for
completion of the Tomb of the Un-
known Soldier in Arlington National
Cemetery, detailed plans have been
drawn and a contract made with the
artist who submitted the design chosen
in the competition Tor the completion
of the tomb. He said also that plans
are being prepared for the construction
of an eastern approach to the tomb.
for which Congress has appropriated
$416,686, and that the work OF con-
struction viii be done during the COM
ing Summer in order that the work on
both the tomb and the new approach
may be completed about the same time.