The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-11-27
National
Defense
AID To Britain, Russia

6Q 10 TIE L ISSIuS1lL IIldI IIlc ICuS-
sian government and people are
determined to fight on at all costs
but the Soviet armies need sub
stantial quantities of munitions
and raw materials" Treasury Sec
rotary Morgenthau advanced the
Soviet Union another $30,000,000
against gold Russia is sending to
this country. The Defense Sup
plies Corporation authorized pay.
ment of $36,889,OOO to the Rus
sian-owned Amtog Trading Com
pany for imports of manganese
and other materials necessary to
U. S. defense industry.
The Federal Loan Agency an
nounced disbursement to Great
Britain of another $100,000,000 on
the $425, 100000 loan to that coun-
try for which Britain put up as
collateral British-owned Ameri-
can factories and investments.
Both Houses of Congress passed
the $685., 100000 new lend-lease
appropriation and sent it to con-
ference to adjust minor differ
ences.
Production Progress
OPM Production Director Har-
rison recently issued this sum-
mary of production progress:
Ships - all Navy and Maritime
Commission contracts are ahead
of schedule and by the end of
November one 10,0O0ton cargo
ship will be turned out every day;
Bombers-designs ready for mass
production and four gigantic new
plants will be in operation by |
next summer; Transportation
being doubled by farming out to
make 1000 a month; Powder and !
Small Arms-abreast of schedule
with 30 to 70 planned plants now
in production, 81 by spring.
The President announced that
by January he will place before
Congress a program to step up
tank output to double the present
contemplated production. He said !
the program is being developed /
primarily for this country's own
needs. Maj. Gen. Devers, ar
mored force commander, speaking
in Philadelphia, said there are al
ready ample tanks for training
purposes.
SubcOntracting
The OPM Defense Contract Dis
tribution issued an army complla-
ton of existing contracts offering
the best subcontracting opportu-
mites and announced a plan for
prime contractors to adopt
whole small industries for the du-
ration. Division Director Odlum !
said the Curtis Wright Airplane
company, for example, has adopt
ed the aluminium industry and
will farm out parts of its orders
to those aluminium plants hard
hit bv curtailment of civilian pro-
duction.
The War Department announced
the Quartermaster Corps Will
make it's contract awards on
regional basis, direct negotiations
will be made with bidders, and
prices will no longer be the DO
factor" in making
awards.
Labor
OPM Directors Knudsen and
Hillman and War and Navy Sec
Stimson and Knox issued
2 Joint statement that the inter-
ruption of defense production by
strikes or sloWdoWns is the great
est help aggressors can get these
DAYS when material on the battle
field is everything" They asked
employers and employees to tele-
phone the U. S. Cancellation Ser
vice or the OPM in cases OF Ia
Dor difficulties so they can re-
ceive immediate attention"
Living Costs and Prices
The Labor Department report
ed living costs for moderate IN
come families in large cities are
now SO percent higher than be-
fore the outbreak of war in Eur
one. Price Administrator Hender-
son, in a report to the President,
said the u. S. needs price control
LEGISLATION land we need 1t fast.
The War Department announced
the present 54-group combat
plane program is being expanded
to provide organization of "a COM
bat groups-a virtual doubling of
Army air strength. The new pro-
gram calls for an increase in Air
Force enlisted personnel to AGO.
900 by next July.
Navy, Army
The Navy launched the subma-
rine Haddock and commissioned
for active service the aircraft car