Evening star., 1942-08-22
T ext
Continued From First Page J

are all designed to help us do this
job
This War Department. Navy De-
partment and Maritime Commission
thus far have scheduled production
semi independently. This has re-
suited in some scheduling anead of
overall productive capacity. Fore
casts of production have peen in
creased several times. Now, since it
will be a difficult task to meet all
schedules, it is more than ever nee
essary to reconcile our needs with
our resources, necessitating the ad-
justment of schedules, reducing
some, and, perhaps, increasing
others.
Continuing month-to-month in
creases in munitions production. de-
spite difficulties in the supply of
some raw materials and semi-fin-
ished products, reflects the determi-
nation of the American people to
overcome all obstacles. Available
statistics show that plant shutdowns
and stoppages so far are only spo-
radio. not general. Any inference
that the war effort as q whole is
slowing down is unwarranted, al
though difficulties in maintaining
such large monthly increases will
become greater as We approach
maximum output. This will mean
increased planning, increased effort
and firm use of the production con-
trolls and materials controls that
have been developed.
Study. of the results reveals that
production is uneven in relation to
schedules. In some cases July pros
duction outstripped the forecasts; in
others The FORECASTS were not ap-
preached, Even within certain cate
gories, such as ordnance, we find
unequal progress as between various
types of equipment. Particularly is it
important to keep the production of
finished weapons and their COM
ponent parts in step.
Production Enters New Phase.
Analysis of these factors sug-
gests that the war production effort
has entered a new phase-one in
which more careful balancing of
requirements will become increas-
lngly important. For a long range
solution there must be a close, ef-
fective control of the flow of ma
terials and a comprehensive system
OF production control, to make
certain that the right materials
get to right places at the right time
This does not involve a reduc-
ton of our major programs. 1t will
mean that while We expand the pro-
duction of raw materials we shall
have to limit the production of some
items which are easy to make. At
the same time we shall have to exer-
else care that production of vital
weapons needed right now continues
TO increase.
This problem will become less
serious as production of basic ma
terials increases. Substantial ex-
pansion programs are being pushed
in such vital materials as steel
rubber, aluminium, magnesium and
copper The situation will be eased
also by increased attention to sal
wage, to controlling the flow OF
materials and by tighter scheduling
| of military items.
New problems will arise, but the
fact that production continues to
| climb should give assurance that
those responsible for war production
recognize their problems. are facing
them as they appear and are find
! ing the answers.
/ Output Is Real Test.
/ The real test of what our in
dustrial machine is doing is how
much are we turning out-what are
we producing. So far we are run
ming at rate 3l2 times as great
/ as during the month before Pearl
/ Harbor; the rest of the year will
tell the story"
Taken item by item, the July
picture of war production follows:
Aircraft.
! Aircraft production increased in
July II per cent over June output
! Although combat plane production
, rose per cent, it was not up to ex.
/ pectations. For the next few months
aircraft production is not expected
to reach the production planned
earlier in the year, due in part to
the difficulty of balancing so vast a
program. Vigorous efforts are be-
ing made to improve this condition
and production in the later part OF
the year is expected to show q
marked increase.
Ordnance.
Overall ordnance production In
July increased Is per cent over June
output, and was very close to sched-
ules.
Production of medium tanks
fmasured numerically was IS pei
cent greater than in the previous
month and considerable ahead OF
schedules,
Light tanks showed a someWha,
smaller percentage of gain-l5 pei
cent-but also were ahead of sched.
ules.
The production of anti-aircraf
guns leaped upward, one class O.
guns showing a gain of 81 per cen
in production. while output of an.
other class shot upward so per cen
both Of them exceeding schedules
by wide margin
The production OF ammunition