Evening star., 1941-12-09
Plant Expansion
Also PIanneda as
War Measure
Program Outlined
To Speed Up All
Defense Output
By JOHN C. HENRY.

BY JOHN C. HENRY.
In his first press conference
since the United States became 6
Nation at war, President Roose-
velt late today outlined in gen.
eral terms broad program fol
intensiflcation of military pro-
duction efforts.
The President said he had can
vaSsed the whole situation with
defense production officials and
members of the Supply Priorities
and ALLEGATIONS Board at White
House conference earlier in the
day.
First requirement for the immedi-
ate speedup, he said it had been
agreed, will be the application of a
seven-day week to the essential
industries.
Plans Plant Expansion.
For the second phase of the gigan-
tic Transformation OF the Nation s
industrial economy, Mr. Roosevelt
said there would be much greater
expansion of plant capacity. This
would be accomplished, he ex-
planned. by diversion of existing ca
pacity and the construction of new
facilities. -
Mr.. Roosevelt covered a wide
range of subjects in his conference,
beginning with report of a jap
anese attack and some casualties on
Clark Field, near Manila.
Reluctant to discuss specific mill
tary and naval operations in the
Pacific, the President promised that
all information pertinent to the
Nations actual fighting activities
will be made public when its ac-
curacy is established and it is proven
that it does not give aid and COM
fort to the enemy.
In this connection, Mr.. Roosevelt
resentfully remarked that neither
he nor any member of Congress
knew the reasons at present for the
Japanese success in surprising the
American defenders of Pearl Har-
Dor. He was even more resentful
when told that rumors were spread
ing that an important percentage
of the Navy personnel in Pearl Har-
Dor had been given weekend leaves.
Plans Farley on Strikes.
Brusquely he asked the questionel
how any one would know such q
thing and then added that he die
not and neither did the person who
started the rlmor
With regard to the contemplated
speedup of the Nations industry
Mr.. Roosevelt disclosed that one OF
the related steps planned is the
calling of labor conference to con-
slider cooperative and voluntary
removal of any possibility of strikes
In detailing the industrial require
ments. the President emphasized
the shortage of most metals To
: meet this condition, he said there
must be an increase in output of raw
materials and diversion by at least
SO per cent of all metals which in
the past year have been going to
civilian uses.
Although he did not set a date
for reaching the fullest energizing
Of the Nations industrial capacity,
Mr. Roosevelt said the immediate
objective is to get more actual de-
liveries of defense implements in
the calendar year 1912.
In approaching his assertion that
there must be a diversion of metals,
Mr.. Roosevelt remarked that there
is not now any necessity for i'm
posing priorities on food stuffs and
similar articles.
War Information.
The President was questioned al
considerable length about his two
general measurements for the re-
lease of war information to the pub
lie, particularly on the question OF
determining whether material is OF
aid and comfort to the enemy
Such determination, he insisted
must be made by the Army and
Navy, acting separately or jointly
as they choose. There is not now
contemplated, he thus indicated
any single information service for
the wartime Government
To a question on the possible ap-
pointment of a Federal co-ordinatol
for transportation, the President re-
marked that transportation facilities
currently are functioning very well
and that there has been no consid-
Grafton given to putting them under
Federal control.
President Roosevelt also said he
heartily approved the idea of con-
solidating the Civilian Conservation
Corps and the National Youth Ad-
ministration in a single agency. He
said he was sending note to Sen
ator McKellar, Democrat, Of Ten
nessee, to this effect. The President
explained that he understood, a bill
had been introduced in the House to
consolidate the N. Y. A. and the
c. C. c. in an agency to be known
as the Civilian Youth Administra-
ton, and that while he was not
familiar with the details Of this par