The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-06-03

aa1s AAEAN ~ A1AA 49,
chute troop hAfiallons 81
about 500 men each
The sea-. o0o. 900 program fer Il
new oamps and oantonmenfs and
enlargement Of existing establish
ments Is virtually completed.
Housing now u sufficient for l.
500. 900 men
Twenty-elght sites for al
ditionai training oenters are
being selected for use when
and n the army IL enlarged 20
1.so0. 900 men.
Tire are sufficient basic weap-
ons-old rifles and machine guns
for the field force. There are
still serious shortages in import
ant modern offensive and defense
weapons: anti-tank guns. snti-air-
craft weapons. heavy field srtil-
lery.
The army IL just beginning 10
get delivery on the new los nm.
howitzers. The % nm. anti-air-
craft gun has not yet come off
production lines. The 81 nm. anti
aircraft and anu-tank guns are
now going into large-scals manu-
facturs. Garand semi-automatie
rifles, Of which more than It's. 900
have been produced. are being
turned out at a rate OF 100 daily.
Production
This il what OPM Production
Chief John ID. Biggers says must
be done by the end of 1p41, as
compared with now:
Alrplanes. output doubled;
tanks. quadrupled; powder,
trehled; small arms ammuni-
ton. trebled; Garand rifles.
doubled; machine guns, In
creased five-fold.
About a month ago. Biggers
predicted that "the next 90 days"
will see the beginning Of real
production This was based on
the knowledge that hundreds of
new and expanded facilities were
nearing completion.
Construction started during the
year on 1900 new plants or ex-
pansion projects at a total cost Of
81. s39. sos, 900. Three-fourths OF
these are being financed by the
government directly or Indirectly.
Approximately $1,000, 0o0.-
900 Ia being spent for ISL
goyernment-owned plants for
planes, engines, machine guns.
ammunition. powder, INT,
chemicals and artillery. Only
q few have been placed In
operation.
This is what existing plants are
turning out:
Aircraft-About 1900 military
planes in May: about 400 per cent
trainers. Until recent months. the
ratio was more trainers than COM
bat ships.
Tanks-Lght Us tonsl. about
$50 a month. Medium (26 tons)
only few pilot models. but about
200 a month expected beginning
with October.
Ordnance-Powder output up
1000 per cent, small-arms ammu-
milton up 200 per cent In less
than a year. output OF 80 ealiber
machine-guns trebled: 80 CALDER
machine-guns quadrupled. Field
and anti-aircraft artillery produc-
ton up 20 per cent, but "pitifully
small" and quantity production
year off.
America, which has always
boasted of unlimited re-
sources. now finds Itself
pInched for aluminium and
manganese for aircraft pro-
duction. There IL not enough
steel for both military and os-
william wants. Civilian use of
electric power may have 10
be curtailed.
There has been an increasing
diversion Of production and ma
terials from civilian supply. Pri-
critics have been imposed On "a
categories Of materials. The pub
lie Ii beginning-Just beginning
TO feel H. II IL becoming difficult.
for example. 10 get aluminium
lighting fixtures or refrigerator
ice trays.
The Economic Situation
Industrial production. measured
by the federal reserve index. IL
running at the highest Level ever.
The labor department reported
Aprii's non-agrioultursl employ
ment at an aIl-tins peak Of 81. =
si7. 900. up 2755.O0 In a year. Lat
est unofficial estimates 81 unern-
ploymsnt are approximately T.
600 900.
A national income % nors than
$50. 900 600 .000-seo0nd only 10
1925 forecast for this year.
and some estimates are a. high
a. 800. 00o. 900 coo for next year.
But much Of this will BE- taken BY
sharply higher taxes on individu-
ais and corporations 10 help pay
for the huge defense program.
Other Defense Activities
Office Of civilian defense. head
81 BY Mayor Fiorello H. LaCuar-
dia. Of New York. wAs set up Nay
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