Evening star., 1940-12-29
Aluminium Supplies
Ample for All Needs,
Stettinius Reports
Operations CurtoiIment
At Northrop Plant Was
Unnecessary, He Says

Supplies of aluminium are ample
for the defense program and last
weeks curtailment of operations by
one warplane plant was "unnecess-
ary," Edward r. Stettinius, ir., de-
fense commissioner in charge OF in
dustrial materials, said yesterday.
Admitting that certain temporary
delays in delivery" of aluminium
will doubtless occur under the rap
Id and unprecedented expansion de-
manded by the defense effort" Mr..
Stettinius reported for the defense
commission on existing and propec-
tive supplies of aluminium.
"It is unfortunate that public
anxiety over our national defense
preparations should be based upon
reports of shortages which do not
exist" he said. Creation of such
anxiety, which has no basis in fact,
serves no patriotic purpose"
Identifying the plant as that of
the Northrop Aircraft Corp, at
Hawthorne, Calf, he said the con-
Germ subsequently had informed the
defense commission that shipments
scheduled by the Aluminium Co., of
America would permit maintenance
of 10-hour shifts with no interrupt
ton of schedules.
The plant announced Monday
that shifts of 1000 employees were
being reduced from 10 to 8 hours
Immediately because of inability to
obtain aluminium for a $4,000 900
order for military planes. The an
nouncement was followed by reports
that the Government was consider
ing both rationing and imposition
of priorities system to assure ad-
equate supplies of aluminium for de-
fense orders.
No Serious Shortage Found.
Mr.. Stettinius said in his state
ment:
Investigations just completed
disclosed no serious shortages in
aluminium supplies for aircraft and
| other military items now required
for national defense. Certain tenn
porary delays in delivery will doubt
less occur under the rapid and un-
precedented expansion demanded
by the defense effort.
New construction, however, is
under way to increase fabricating
facilities sufficiently in advance OF
plant increases in aircraft produc-
| ton to meet all military require
ments. This expansion will increase
capacity in the various branches OF
the aluminium industry from two to
five times that of September, 1910.
The Aluminium Co. of AmA-ica,
the Reynolds Metals Co. and other
fabricatorS are increasing their ia
cilities for making strong alloy
sheets. extrusions, tubing, rolled
products and the basic metal in
ingot form.
In the last three months forge
hammer capacity has been in
creased SO per cent. An additional
"a per cent increase is scheduled
to come into operation during jan
uary and February. In addition TO
these hammers negotiations are
now under way with various auto
mobile manufacturers and other
producers throughout the country
for further additions to hammer
capacity.
Mill Capacity to Increase.
"Strong alloy sheet mill capacity
now roughly 100000 pounds per
month. is scheduled to increase to
12,500,000 pounds per month in
March, 1941; 100000 pounds per
month in August, 1941, and % 50O,-
900 pounds per month in June, 1912.
These increases, resulting from
expansion programs of both the
Reynolds Metals Co. and the Alumi-
mum Co. Of America, are expected to
provide a monthly capacity in excess
Of total monthly requirements, in
Guiding civilian requirements, at 1910
levels.
Similar steps are under way to
provide adequate capacity for ex-
trusions and other fabricated
aluminium items.
"Slnce September, 1910, total ship
ments of aluminium materials have
been made to aircraft manufac-
turing companies in amounts con-
siderably IN excess of those neces-
Sary to meet current total military
aircraft delivery schedules
Lack of Understanding.
'fOn the basis of our investigation,
several reports Of shortages appear
to have arisen mainly from fear of
failure of future deliveries. This
fear may be attributable to lack of
general understanding as to the
scope of construction which the Ma
tional Defense Advisory Commission
is now in position to announce as
under way.
Recently a published report of a
Y