Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-01
Production FORCES
Ahead Of Use
BIZ O1Uen L. Scott.

The production of weapons produced
by American industry is immense. That
volume is greater today by far, than the
volume of arms production of any other
nation at war.
AS yet, however, this American war
production is not having an effect at all
comparable with its size. A trickle of
American arms is reaching Russia, but
this trickle is far from important. A
slightly larger flow is going out to the
Southwest Pacific. China is getting next
to nothing. The British complain that
the materials reaching England are not
impressive in amount. There is some
what greater. evidence of American equip
ment in Africa.
In that situation is one of the great
mysteries OF the war. The mystery con-
Germs the disappearance of tanks, air.
planes, guns, ammunition, ships and
other war materials. Everybody knows
that they are produced. Yet British,
Russian, Chinese and even American Of
ficials complain that they are not show
ing up in quantity where the battles are
being fought.
In the past, top-ranking Army and
Navy officials have blamed the American
people in explaining why American
equipment was not playing bigger role
in the war. They insisted that industry
and workers in industry were not doing
the job that needed to be DONE Official
figures no longer bear out that conten-
ton. They disclose, instead, that any
failure to bring to bear the weight of
an immense quantity of war weapons
must rest with the admirals and gen.
erals themselves, and with the policies
that they formulate.
In 10 months Of war this country's eff
fort is measured in terms Of $40 900, 000,-
900 of expenditures. Those expenditures
today are running at the rate of $6,000,-
100000 month or $4,000, 100000 year.
German Europe and Japan combined
are setting no such record. Great Britain
in three years of war has been able to
make an effort measured in terms of less
than $4,000 100000.
Translated into actual weapons, the
record is equally impressive. The official
index of war weapon production shows
that finished tanks, aircraft, ships and
other materials are flowing out of fac
tories at a rate four times as fast as in
December of last year.
This country is producing nearly 5000
airplanes each month. go per cent of
them combat types. Germany produces
less than 1850 month and Japan
around $50. The British turn out about
1000 planes each month. American
tank production leads the world. The
output of most types of guns is very
large. In vehicles of military character,
no Nation even approaches the American
production rate We are turning out two
or three merchant ships each day. The
rate of production of warships is large
and rising.
In addition. the United States now
possess the third largest Army in the
world. It's Navy ut above ] 100 900 men Is
the worlds largest boEh IR personnel and
equipment. Everything about the Amer
lean Army and Navy is de luxe. 1t equip
ment is new, its weapons of proved super
iority, its men certainly the equal in
ability and skill to any other.
Yet the weight OF American warpower
is not being brought to bear in any de-
cisive manner. This leads to the ques-
ton Of why the immense American effort
is not showing greater results on the &C
tual battle fronts. Three answers are
found
The first answer appears to be that
vast amounts of American equipment
are being held inside the United States
to equip American forces instead of
sending great quantities Of war mate
rails to Russia, England, China or Africa
to be used by the soldiers of this Nations
Allies, that equipment is kept at home
against the time when American troops
can be moved to the scene of action. The
Russians, in particular, complain about
this situation. The British and Chinese
also complain, and there are important
military officials inside this country who
do likewise.
The second answer appears to be that
shipping still is problem of much I'M
portance. Informed officials contend,
even so, that If this country and Britain
really utilized their shipping in the most
effective manner, the problem of trans
port would not be the bottleneck that it
is pictured. Production Of cargo ships
today is we'll ahead of sinkings so that
this factor will be of diminishing impor-
lance. In fact, 1t takes five times as
r11l1ch shin Anoaricoo
troops with equipment to battle fronts
as it does to transport equipment alone
for the use of troops of the nations al
ready fighting.
Then the third answer to the question
Of what becomes of American equipment
Is found in its dispersion. American
weapons are being spread all over the
world, mostly in driblets. This is madc
necessary by defensive strategy. De-
tense requires that equipment be piled
up at all of the points at which an enemy
might strike. 1t prevents equipment
from being piled up at the one point
from which an enemy can be struck.
1t is important to know these things
because the war is in period OF transit
ton so far as the United States is con-
cerned.
In the past, the generals and admirals
conveniently could blame the American
people for their defeats. They could ar
que that American industry and Amer1-
can workers failed to provide them with
the quantity of arms that they require.
In the future. the generals and admirals
fhov,oco1yoc will hn ho1l a hln for
results. They have been provided with