Evening star., 1940-09-07
Munitions
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made that revision of plans to in
clude greater production capacity
was considered. Apparently. it was
decided that the plants should be
larger and more money requested.
-Four sources of funds thus far
have been available for the NUM-
tions plant program. Included are
s44, ,000, 900 in the ordnance bill,
5000, ,000, 900 in the supplemental ex-
pansion program, $325, 900 900 In the
$5,251 ,486, 1892 bill Just sent to the
White House by Congress, and $132,-
600, 900 from the 5000. .000, 900 blank
check" given the President.
Augmenting this $701 .000, ,000- plus
total, at least $500 900 900 more may
be sought, possibly in another sup
Elemental national defense bill.
The new expansion, as explained
by some officials connected with the
program. could be attributed to the
policy Of passing equipment on to
Canadians and the British. Greater
quantities thus could be made avail
able for shipment abroad.
Later Types of Equipment.
1t was said also that by turning
over existing materials to the British
and Canadians there would be
available to United States forces
later types of equipment. Only this
week 1t was pointed out that tanks
could be made available for export.
Other ordnance believed to be in
cluded in the class of "non-essen-
tials" are quantities of anti-aircraft
weapons, heavy machine guns,
trucks and old .7s's now being re-
placed.
Authoritative sources said the
original list of "non-essential" war
materials certified by the War De-
partment has been completely
cleared out. In view of this, it was
said, another survey has indicated
that more supplies can be made
available for sale abroad. Quanti-
ties Of various ordnance to be re-
leased, however, were not revealed
pending final tabulation.
In recent weeks other contracts let
on a privately operated, Govern
ment-owned basis include q SIS, ,000,-
900 powder plant at Radford, Va:
Ohio, and a $40, ,000, 900 tank plant to
be constructed by the Chrysler Corp.
In Michigan.
TINT Plant in Illinois.
Early next week the War Depart
ment, with the approval of the De-
tense Commission, is to announce
the ALLEGATION Of approximately $20,. |
000, 900 for the erection of q TINT
plant in Northern Illinois. This
plant Is expected to be the first of
six to be announced as part of the
expanded defense program. When
all are in operation, it was said. ex-
plosive production in Government
owned plants will equal the output
of powder propellants.
One official pointed out that the
two pottlenecks confronting the de.
fense planners are ordnance and
it was said work is being
done toward working out a system
with plane manufacturers similar to
that being used with munitions
makers.
Thus, in the near future 1t Is ex-
pected that the Government will
step directly into the plane manu-
featuring business through subsidy
Of plant construction.
Cost Plus Fixed Fee Basis.
As in the powder plant negoti-
atoms, 1t is expected plants viii be
built and operated by manufacturers
on cost plus fixed fee basis. The
however, would re-
tain ownership of the facilities. This |
method is expected to break charges
of uon-co-operation.
However, in addition, many plane
producers have been receiving huge |
domestic and foreign orders which
tax their existing capacities. This |
week, 1t was recalled, the Glenn L. |
Martin Co. of Baltimore began
on additional facilities
to handle increased business.
Other companies are expected to
follow with additions to their plants.
and many of these, it was believed, |
are expected to be constructed with |
Federal fundS. |