Evening star., 1940-07-27
Progress of Defense Text
Knudsen Foresees rs, 900 Annual
Plane Production by July, 1912

these instruments can begin to roll
of production line.
The problem of machine tools,
which is fundamental to the entire
defense program, is another point
where basic design must be carried
on and to those unacquainted with
requirements in this respect, 1t
may seem chat little or nothing Is
being done. Tools for turning out
ordnance supplies must be specially
designed. The kind Of work in
volved does not, Of course, attract
headlines Very definite progress is
being made, however, and no actual
delay exists.
There is scarcely a defense in
strument which does not depend for
its production upon the machine
tool industry. This industry was
the first and most important po-
tential bottleneck which this de-
partment confronted. It was con-
sidered Immediately and steps taken
to work out a prompt solution.
Through the unlimited cooperation
of the industry, which set up its
own defense committee, I am able
to report that the huge planers and
millers needed to work armor plate
particularly for the expanded naval
program will be available on time,
according to reports to me from the
industry this week. This should
prevent what might have been a
serious delay in naval construction.
1t can also be said that the
machine tool builders are making
their facilities available to the de-
fense program on voluntary basis
as completely and effectively as
though wartime priorities were in
effect.
Annual Production Of $4,000
Planes In 1912 Indicated.
Airplanes and engines: Estimates
have been completed on required
capacities for airplanes and engines,
but this information must remain
confidential for the present. There
is every indication that the industry
will be able to meet the heavy re-
quirements placed upon it under
the program calling for an annual
production of $4,000 complete air.
craft (engines and armor by July l.
1912 An analysis has been made of
current and expanded rates of de-
livery for British account and in
this rnronnti~p IL rhn,,1l ha
that the British proposals for ex-
panded procurement of aircraft in
this country do not threaten inter-
ference with maximum production
of our own needs, inasmuch as
they would be handled independent
Of capacity required for the maxi
mum American program.
Light ordnance and explosives:
Contracts have been formally signed
with the Du Pont company providing
for erection and operation of a
Government-owned powder plant
at Charlestown, Ind, with a pro-
duction capacity of 100000 pounds
per day. This plant will be COM
pleted and in operation within 10
months. In 1917 the contract for
construction of the first powder
plant was not signed until seven
months after we had entered the
war.
No Serious Probe mon
Small Arms Production.
Negotiations for a she'll loading
plant are well advanced and a con-
tract is expected to be signed
shortly.
1t has been found that no serious
problem exists in connection with
the production of small arms and
ammunition. Assurances have been
received that at least 500 of the
new Garand rifles will be produced
daily in one arsenal by October l
and that production at this arsenal
will be doubled by early spring.
Shipbuilding: We have been
working closely with the Navy De-
partment on construction capacity
in connection with the expanded
program calling for a 10 per cent
increase in fighting ships. Detailed
studies are being made rapidly in
connection with the problem of ex-
panding shipbuilding facilities.
Construction: An overall survey
has been undertaken to determine
War and Navy Department re-
quirements in the immediate future
This survey will show definitely
the amount of construction contem-
plated by these two departments
in connection with the defense pro-
gram.
Food products: A preliminary
survey of Army and Navy food re-
quirements indicates that no bottle
necks exist in this field even under
maximum requirements.
Trucks: No bottlenecks have been
found to exist in truck production
and present schedules call for de-
livery of $4,000 trucks to the armed
services by December 81 Of this
year.