Evening star., 1937-12-27
Vast u. S. Resources Strengthen Defense
Plan Worked Out to Swing Factories to
Wartime Tempo
BY ALEXANDER p. GEORGE.
Associated Press Feature Writer.

Associated Press Feature Writer.
THE United States has a third
line war defense which is
by far the most formidable in
Il the world-national resources
This country possesses nearly one
half of the world total supply OF es-
sential raw materials. raises prac-
tically all of the foodstuffs it requires
and boasts virtually unlimited manu-
featuring plant capacity.
It has an abundance Of such i'm
portant materials for military require
ments as iron and steel, lead and cop
per, oil and cotton Nickel needed for
toughening steel could be obtained
from friendly Canada, worlds great
est source of supply.
The United States is tops in number
OF manufacturing plants. in trans
portation facilities. in number of in
ventors, technicians and skilled work.
ers. In the event of war the produc-
ton Of fighting planes, OF tanks, guns,
high explosives and other weapons and
munitions could be almost unlimited.
rkuFes Aept secret.
War Department plans looking to
swift mobilization of resources at
any outbreak of hostilities provide for
rapid stepping up Of the output Of
military aircraft. These plans include
estimates Of the speed with which
planes could be built and put into
service, but the figures as we'll as other
mobilization details are a secret.
Aviation observers, however. cite the
vast American production of planes
during the World War, when aviation
was in its infancy, as indicating that
this country could produce as many
planes as 1t would need.
For soldiers this country can tap
. virtually inexhaustible reservoir of
manpower. When We entered the
World War there were zoe, 900 men IN
the American Army, one-third of them
National Guardsmen. Nineteen months
later the United States had an army
Of 100000 men, some 1000, 900 had
been transported 5000 miles across
submarine infested seas and 1896, 900
had fought in France.
Plan Worked Out.
Since the World War, military ex-
perts and key men in industry and
transportation have been working on
. secret, master defense plan for
orderly mobilization of troops, ma
te-ials, industrial plants, capital and
labor.
1t provides for the setting up of
governmental boards to control in
dustries. to coordinate railway. high
way and airway services, and the
drafting Of industrial and technical
experts into Government service.
For the job of harnessing indus
trial power to military and civilian
needs, war resources administra-
ton would be created along the lines
Of the l9l7-l919 war industries board
but with broader powers and juris-
diction.
Price Fixing Provided.
The President would be empowered
to fix prices Of commodities. particu-
larly food and fuel. and to commander
manufacturing plants and other es-
tablishments under certain condi-
tions.
One OF the first moves would be
to divert labor and raw materials
from the production of non-essential
items to the production of those
necessary to defense needs.
We are not completely self sufficient
In military requirements. according
to the experts. Rubber would be one
Of our largest import needs although
We could reclaim large quantity in
civilian use for military purposes.
The Nation is dependent on out
side sources for manganese, iodine
and tungsten. A coffee famine might
jrk soldiers as we'll as civilians. An
expanded sugar beet acreage. how
ever, would 60 far in providing the
Nation with a normal supply Of sweets.