Milford chronicle., 1942-11-06
A WEEK OF THE WAR


% per cent, and merchant ships u
10 per cent.
The report stated that the WPl
index of munitions production in
creased "a points in September 3
3S1-four times the production
rate at the time Of Pearl HarboI
The Treasury paid out $500 mil
lion for war purposes, an increas
of $500 million over August. Thi
amounted to 40 per cent of all pay
ments made in the United Statei
for goods and services during tn,
month.
Mr.. Nelson's report said four-en
gined bombers rolled off assembly
lines very nearly on schedule. The
output of heavy aircraft showed
marked increase over August, will
the output of light, trainer-typt
planes held below August. Some
new plants which came into pro-
duction recently made much bet
ter than anticipated showing. Pro
peller production continued a ma
jor problem, although enough pro-
pellers have been made thus far
to fly all planes.
While merchant ship production
was 10 per cent above August, ac-
tual tonnage delivered was "a per
cent above August ,099 900 dead
weight tons compared with $4,000
in August. This was IL per cent
above first of the month forecasts
and approached closely the total
production of merchant shipyards
last year. During the month, IL
major combat vessels were laun-
ched, the report stated. Deliveries
of major vessels were greater than
forecast, but deliveries of other
types were behind expectations.
Army
The Army Specialist Corps,
which had indueted approximately
1900 men, was abolished the War
Department announced, and all flu
ture commissions directly from
civil life will be given in the Spe-
cialist Reserve until the men COM
missioned have completed a course
of military training. Then they will
be commissioned in appropriate
grades in the Army. Members of
the Corps already in the Service
will be rendered commissions in
the Army of the United States, if
qualified.
The change was made, the War
said, because it was
found inadvisable "in the interest
Of efficiency, uniformity of opera
tions, discipline and the avoidance
Of duplication of effort" to have two
uniformed services. Applications
now on file for the Specialist Corps
will continue to be available for
for appointments in
the Army of the United States"
the Department said. Under the
new rules no person under 35,
previous commissioned |
will be appointed unless
ne has been classified At for phys
cal disability. No person without |
previous commissioned service who
IS between "a and As will be ac-
;epted if his classification is la or
;. Exceptions will be made to
.hese rules only where there is
critical need" for the applicants |
services.
War Secretary Stimsan report
ID the Alcan highway is now open
% trucks carrying munitions and
materials to troops in Alaska for
is entire length of 1871 miles.
Formal opening will probably take
place November Is, he said. Mr..
Stimson said the furlough period
If two weeks given newly-inducted
soldiers will be reduced to one
week. approximately 3,400 tons of
nail, including more than 100000
Christmas parcels, were sent to
j. S. armed forces overseas during
he first 25 days of October.
The War Front
Army Chief of Staff Marshal, in
/ letter to Commander-in-Ch Chief
King of the U. S Fleet, said the
'skillful seamanship" of the Navy
las already escorted 100000 SOL
liers safely across the submarine
infested waters of the Atlantic and
Pacific"
The Navy reported November /
hat two enemy aircraft carriers,
wo battleships and three cruisers
we're damaged and 100 airplanes
destroyed in a great sea and air
)attle $50 miles northeast of Quad
llcanal. Navy Secretary Knox said
he Japanese feet units have re-
ired from the scene in the Solo
mons and the first round" of that
,attle is over. In the battle the U.
}. lost an unidentified aircraft
,arrier and the destroyer Porter.
Following this battle U. S. naval
lnits shelled enemy positions on
Suadalcanal. On the ground U. S.
Marines and soldiers repulsed all
Japanese attempts to dent their
positions around Henderson air.
ield. General MacArthur's head
quarters in Australia reported No
Tember that fresh bombing raids
IN Jap bases at BUN and Faisi
we're believed to have sunk or dam
Iged seven more enemy surface
hips.
Labor Supply
President Roosevelt told his
,ress conference that a compulsory
for American women
o determine their availability for
var work is being considered
While no compulsory drafting of
for war industries is con-
he said, there is a need I
or information which a compul- (
ory registration could produce. ]
such a registration would require
egislation which probably could
lot be completed until the end of
he year.
Labor Secretary Perkins report
I'd 100000 new workers must
ome into the labor market before
he end of 1943 and an additional
100000 by the end of 1914. War
Ianpower Commission Chairman
- AA AL