Evening star., 1941-12-11
u. :. Moves Swiftly
To Launch Capacity
Arms Production
Steps Token to Defend
Atlantic Coast From
Surprise Attack

With the war against Americ;
spread to both oceans and vast ney
potential fronts by the German an,
italian war declarations today, off
cial Washington moved swiftly t,
broaden its naval and military plan
to meet fresh menaces and to steam
up production to its utmost capacity
Alive to the danger of a surpris,
attack in the East, similar to tn,
Japanese assault on Hawaii Sunday
the Government was taking imme
diate steps to intensity defenst
measures along the entire Atlantic
coast line.
The War Department, in a com,
munique last night, had announced
the instant Tightening of the rims
of men and steel protecting tht
whole North American continent.
Production plans for munition,
and other necessities of war SINH
larly were being pushed feverishly.
16S Hour-a-Week Output.
o. P. M. Director William s. Knud-
sen has ordered all warplane fac
tories on a seven day, 168-hour basis
and he said the same order applied
to four other major lines of produc-
tlon-guns. ships, ammunition ano
tanks. Anti-aircraft guns rate next
to planes on Mr. Knudsens urgent
list.
o. P. M, at the same time, jumped
the monthly production goal of four
motored bombers from 500 to 1.0OC
and announced a program for the
construction of still more heavy
bomber plants deep in the interior.
A virtual blank check in priority
power was offered the Army and
Navy by Priorities Director Donald
NJ. Nelson.
Mr. Nelson indicated he would
abolish the swollen "priorities criti-
cal list" specifying and delimiting
the items which the armed services
could order with automatic prefer
ence over other buyers, and let the
naval and military authorities cope
with shortages whenever and Wher-
ever they might occur.
Food Will Be Included.
Even foodstuffs would be included.
o. P. M. officials said. and every
other product of the country's farms,
mines and factories.
In its communique describing de-
fense measures, the War Depart
ment said:
Steps to augment the defense
OF both the east and west coasts
commenced Sunday night when the
War Department placed plans in
effect which have materially
strengthened the forces already sta
toned in those areas.
THE railroads aided greatly in
the movement of troops and ma
terial, operating through trains to
destinations on emergency schedules.
In addition to the ground troops
moved, the air force has completed
a redistribution of air units. which
has placed it in a position to meet
any threat on both the east and west
coasts"
The labor issue came to the fore
again as administration officials
asked Congress to hold up anti
strike legislation until an effort can
be made to eliminate any work
stoppages through an employer
employe conferences move that
promptly was challenged by the
National Association of Manu-
facturers.
Plans Laid Before Committee.
Secretary of Labor Perkins, Sid
ney Hlllman, associate director of
the o. P. M; members Of the Labor
Board, Defense Mediation Board
and other Government officials laid
plans for a bor-management con-
ference before the Senate Labor
Committee, which is considering the
Smith bill passed by the House to
ban defense strikes.
The plan looks toward a formula
for industrial peace and increased
production. Chairman Thomas.
Democrat, of Utah, said the Labor
Committee would not act on the
Smith bill until the President had
approved or disapproved the con-
ference program.
The Manufacturers Association.
IN a statement issued in New York,
hit at the strikes fostered in war
in recent months by ''ir-
responsible minorities" and said leg
islation was the only answer to this
problem.
AS the national effort heightened
Its stride, the Capitol continued to
hear bipartisan agitation for
sweeping investigation of the cir
cumstances which permitted Japan
to perpetrate its fierce assault on
Pearl Harbor Sunday.
Senators Views Differ.
Some Senators thought that there
must have been criminal negli-
gence' about which the Nation
should know, but others took the
position that any inquiry at this
time might disclose information
which would give aid and comfort
to the enemy.
The Pearl Harbor official casualty
list heightened yesterday when the
Army made public the names of 88
more dead and the Navy disclosed
that Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell
Kidd was among those killed in the
savage action. The total casualties
are expected to reach 5000, with the
killed numbering almost half.
In the bigger production drive, o.
p. M. announced that it intended to
seek a seven-day operations week in
the Nations copper, zinc and lead
mines.
Heading all its announcements
with the remember Pearl Harbor"
battle cry, o. P. M. also clamped
down on all public utility expansion
of equipment or property without
Federal approval The objective
was to save vital materials.
Tire Sales Banned.
In another conservation move that
hit the man-in-the-street more
directly, the o. P. M. virtually halted
the sale of all rubber tires and tubes
until December %, pending formula
tion Of "a more permanent" plan
for controlling rubber distribu ion.
"Severe penalties" were threatened,
,,y.Iare "a y,,,rnhocor boI obtoinaI a