Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-09-12
THE PRESIDENT
FORMS SYSTEM
TO DISTRIBUTE

dS OITeCtOI W ldCc Vic ICoPOhoiDIliIy
of alleviating the hardships which
have resulted from the defense pro-
gram and to marshal our produc
tive capacities to the objective that
no plant or tool which can be used
for defense shall be allowed to remain
idle" The order was issued, the Pres
ident said, "in furtherance of deter
mined move to help the smaller
business units of the country obtain
a fair share of the defense orders
and to prevent, as far as possible,
dislocation of industry and unemploy-
ment of workers in plants where pro-
duction has been curtailed by priori-
ties and material shortag es."
The Division will set up branch of
fees throughout the nation where
there will be available: procurement
representatives of Federal contract
ing agencies to negotiate contracts
and subcontracts, technical engineer
ing advice on conversion of plants to
defense work, representatives of the
OPM Labor Division to plan reem-
ployment or training of workers in
plants involved, and financial facil-
tiles of the RFC and other Federal
agencies which may be necessary to
finance plant conversion.
To spread defense work among as
great a number of firms and in as
many localities as possible" the Di-
vision will revise Federal procure
ment practice in favor of the smaller
production units-"as yet largely I'M
used"-and promote organization of
pools of small manufacturers to un-
dertake defense work jointly. The Di-
vision will also establish exhibits
showing parts of defense articles
needed, their number, the tools neces-
sary to make them and all other in
formation so that machine shop own
ers and manufacturers can determine
"then and there" what they can do
and arrange to do it.
OPM announced military aircraft
manufacturers delivered 1854 planes
during August, a record and 1874
planes more than in July. OPM re-
ported 2,42O defense plants have been
built or expanded since the beginning
of the defense program.
The President told his press con-
ference armament production will be
accelerated by greater expenditures.
The new Supply Priorities and Allo-
cation Board, stating it will stimulate
and reorganize defense production
"to the limit of the nations resources,
"said it's general policy demands cur
tailment of less-essential industries
which use materials and facilities
necessary to a realistic defense
program" ~ +'r
The Navy reported that during the
first eight months of 1941 total of
213 Naval vessels were completed
including one battleship, one cruiser,
eight submarines and eight submar-
ines and eight destroyers-and keels
were laid for 436 ships, including two
battleships, Is cruisers, 1S submar-
ines, two aircraft carriers and 81
destroyers.
Maritime Commission Chairman
Land announced the Commissions
building program will place in opera
ton 1,153 new ships of approximately
12,41O,OO0 lightweight tons between
July 1, 1941, and the end of 1943. He
said production is running Is percent
ahead of estimates made in May, and
that from 1870 to 1874 new vessels will
be completed this year instead of the
105 estimated in May. Admiral Land
said an additional 80 vessels will be
delivered in the first three months
of 1912, 146 in the second quarter,
154 in the third quarter, and 1874 in
the fourth quarter. BY the beginning
of 1943, the program will yield in
three months more than the 100000
lightweight tons of ships constructed
in. the entire war year of 1918.
The second and Third Armies and
1000 planes of the Second and Third
task force, including Navy and Mar
inc units, began moving into the Lou
isiana maneuver area for combat
practice September 15to 30. The War
Department said it expects to work
out under actual conditions of ma
jor battle the role of combat aviation
in support of mechanical and armor-
ed ground forces.
To improve the efficiency and sta
nina of the Army, the Department
set age limits for field officers rang
ing from 30 years for Second Lieu
tenants to 81 years for Major Gen
erals. Officers over age will be given