Evening star., 1938-12-26
War Departments S
Mobilization Plan
To Be Rushed
Presidents Defense
Program Gives 1t
New Impetus
3y the Associated Press.


war.
The Army has been working on it
for 18 years. Already the basic blue
prints and much of the detail are
ready for wartime industrial ma
chine operating at top speed under
q temporary military dictatorship
rivaling any in Europe.
Now orders have gone out to COM
plete missing sections promptly. The
far-reaching detailed scheme can be
brought up-to-date in a matter of
months, by an official estimate, if
Congress provides sufficient funds
for the purpose.
More Funds Needed.
More officers for the planning
task, some $30,000,00O additional to
train factories to turn out certain
vital and complex munitions and
stores of critical materials are
needed, the War Department con-
tends, to fit industry and the Nation
generally for the roles they would
be called on to fill in the event of
another conflict of 1917-18 propor-
tions.
Now, 90 officers working quietly in
Washington and in key industrial
cities are devoting their entire time
to the war industry preparations
alone. Aiding them are scores of
others concerned primarily with OBJ
tanning munitions and supplies for
immediate needs of the Army and
Navy.
As current buying is linked closely
TO advance measures for assuring
nmitless wartime munitions, perfec-
t1on OF the master plan already has
been brought nearer by the admin
istration'S new stress on national
defense.
Aircraft manufacturers have
agreed to gear up production for
both peace and war. Utilities mag
mates proposed last month a $2,00O,-
100000, two-year expansion pro-
gram both for immediate CONNER
c1al requirements and to assure am
pie power for factories in 16 cities
which in wartime would produce the
bulk of Army and Navy arms and
supplies.
War Plans Streamlined.
More pointed developments in
clude:
l. Orders issued this month, well
m advance of Mr.. Roosevelt's rec
concentrations to Congress, to
streamline the war plans for NUM-
tions. At the first general confer
ence Of planning officers Assistant
Secretary of War Louis Johnson
gave instructions looking to mass
production of guns, air bombs, shoes
and the thousands of other military
requirements.
2. Official disclosure that Congress
would be asked for more than $780,
100000, in addition to $4,000, 900 ap-
propriated this year, to equip and
train some Is selected plants to
turn out SIS vital guns and other
arms which have no peacetime
counterpart.
3. Revision of the detailed indus
trial mobilization plan as approved
three years ago by Secretaries
Woodring and Swanson, to make it
simpler and more understandable
4. Preparations to write into con-
tracts for current supplies a proviso
that equipment must be installed to
cope with heavy wartime orders.
10000 Factories Surveyed.
With the confusion and delays of
World War days fresh in mind, Con-
gress in 1920 initiated the prepara-
ton Of a comprehensive industrial
mobilization plan. The Army has
been at it ever since, with industry
cooperating.
Some 10000 factories have been
surveyed and 10000 have been as
signed definite wartime tasks.
Locked up in steel cabinets in the
War Departments Munitions Build
ing and in branch Offices in indus
trial centers are their production
secrets. Many clerks are required
to keep the material up to date.
The agreements with the factories
have no legal status and are not
binding. They signify merely that
the plants have co-operated with the
Government in studying and ana
lying the war loads that may be
placed on them and are prepared,
with the necessary peace time train
ing, to carry these loads in time of
war.
Program No Secret.
Assistant Secretary of War john
son has general supervision. In
direct charge, however, is Col. Harry
K. Rutherford, slight, graying ord
nance officer, native of New York.
This phase of getting ready for
war is primarily an Army Job, but
the Navy is involved directly through
the Army and Navy Munitions
Board.
Just what the Government pro-
poses to do in wartime to rally the
Nation behind the armed forces is
no secret. Anybody can obtain for
Is cents a copy of the latest revision
OF the master plan, complete with
charts and diagrams.
1t Is 75-page booklet, Industrial
Mobilization Plan, Revised 1885," It
sets forth that simultaneously with
declaration of war, or before, Con-
gress will be asked in effect to make
the President temporary dictator
with even more sweeping powers over
trade, transportation, fuel, prices
and the Nations economic life gen.
orally than President Wilson welded
In 1917-18.
In addition to the existing peace
time governmental establishments.
there would be set up these emer-
gency agencies:
An advisory defense council, as
the Presidents special war ministry.
Major Details Completed.
War Resources Administration, to
Coordinate military and civilian re-
quirements and speed industry's
output.
War Trade Administration, con-
trolling imports and exports, to ne
gotiate trade agreements and to