Evening star., 1940-12-17
Old Army Production
Tables Not Bindinq,
Manufacturers Told
Adequate Consideration
Promised in Allocuting
New Defense Orders

Donald M. Nelson. co-ordinator
of national defense purchases. said
today that many manufacturers had
indicated reluctance to accept cur
rent orders" calling for manufacture
of war material other than those
which had been assigned to them
under the Armys old industrial mo-
bilization plan, which was to go into
effect in a major national emer-
gency.
Mr.. Nelson assured the manufac-
turers that defense orders being
placed with them will be given "ade-
uuate consideration" when addi-
tional orders are being allocated,
and, he added, "the present defense
effort has not yet absorbed the full
capacity of all allocated plants"
Under the mobilization plan,
based Oh 20-year survey Of peace
time plants. the Army had assigned
wartime tasks to about 10000 con-
Germs. 1t was explained that, While
the wartime tasks might call for the
manufacture Of machine gun parts
for firm now making washing ma
chine parts, the company may nave
accepted a contract for immediate
production of shells rather than wait
for its assigned production in a
major emergency.
Old Schedules Not Binding.
"This possibility has been re-
ported to the Assistant Secretary OF
War" Mr.. Nelson said, land the
Assistant Secretary states that these
planned schedules are regarded by
the War Department as evidence OF
willingness and ability to cooperate
In a major war effort. He points out
that they are not binding either
upon the manufacturer or the Gov
eminent and are not to Interfere IN
any way with orders being placed
under the present defense program
The present defense effort has
not vet absorbed the full capacity
of all allocated plants. However
all defense orders placed with them
whether or not for the items orlgl-
nally scheduled, are considered as a
part of the planned emergency load
and the capacity still available Is
shown on the records of the War
Department"
Meanwhile. Defense Commission
sources disclosed that for the past
two months a Nationwide survey
has been under way to discover ma
chine-tool needs for defense indus
tries and also to find unused plants
with available machine tools which
could be adapted quickly for defense
production.
"Ghost Towns" Surveyed.
This is expected to permit the
elimination of a small part of the
load being carried by tool manu-
facturers in attempting to produce
the vital machinery needed to man
ufacture war materiel.
Ordnance district officers of the
Army have been carrying on the sur
vey and are being aided by a De-
fense Commission committee at
tempting to rehabilitate ghost
towns" where plants and machinery
are available, but are closed down
for lack OF orders.
The commission today took up the
problems of supplying the Army
with the huge quantities of fresh
fruit and vegetables needed to assure
health for the soldiers.
A committee representing all fac
tors in the fresh fruit and vegetable
trades, headed by Joseph Di Giorgio,
met with Douglas c. MacKeachie,
assistant to Mr.. Nelson, and Col
Paul P. Logan of the Quartermaster
Corps.
Procurement Principles Outlined.
Among the principles of procure
ment outlined to the trade were
l. Local growers adjacent to Army
camps will be given first considera-
ton in fresh produce purchases.
2. The Army welcomes assistance
from the growers in developing
an efficient procurement program
through which fruits and vegetables
can be obtained at fair prices