Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-09
WPB Better
Than Board in
World War /?
Snug Yes Explained
as Unwarranted
BY HUGH $. JOHNSON

N abOoC dtdl ~ bt " saw
~ about how much farther
along war production is today
than il was in the same elapsed
time after we declared war in
1917. with some hint that our
WPB is that much better than
the War Industries Board.
II is a pain in the neck. In
the first place, why shouldn't we
be much further ahead?
We had the ssons OF the
Allies and enemies experience
for almost three years to go on.
The Allies had the later ex-
perience and methods OF the
War Industries Board already
partly blocked out and we had
sent missions overseas to learn
what they were doing.
Also we had in World War /
become an arsenal OF the de-
mocracies"-and of the enemies
of democracy. too.
Many of our plants were turn
Ing out guns. shells, trucks, ships
and munitions chiefly eXplo-
sives and propellants.
We had stepped up our war
production greatly and knew a
great deal about dealing with
military buyers and specifica-
tions.
Furthermore. and most impor-
tant of all, we soon found out
that. whereas the Allies had
reached the peak Of their man.
power, we were nowhere near
ours.
TNHEY had more arms capacity
Il than they knew what TO do
with. What they needed most
from us was principally raw ma
terials for both their arms and
ours. We had il in plenty but
we did not have the factories to
convert it into finished arms.
It so happened. therefore, that
we sent them the steel, chem
icals and food that they needed
to make arms and bought from
them most of our artillery. a lot
of our ammunition and nearly
all our airplanes.
We furnished them food and
shoes and only such instruments
of war as trucks and partS-of
tanks.
1t is fact that only about
10000 rounds of artillery OF
American manufacture--mostly
shrapnel which was not in great
demand-waS fired from the
American lines at the enemy.
Only few American air
planes left the ground and they
were dangerous and of little use
except for training.
This is not 10 belittle the
American effort. Without our
raw materials the Allies could
not have held.
There were more American
soldiers in the AEF than the
BEF ever had in France at any
one time.
The American navy made II
possible for them 10 get there.
II kept the Sea-lanes open and
made practicable the North Sea
mine barrage.
A MEXICAN money also
"A financed the latter part Of
the war for the Allies.
II is unfair 70 say that we won
the war for them. hut II is no
more than justice 70 say that we
made their victory possible and
that. without US. they7Could not
have prevailed.
They did prevail. They did 50
because our war and pre.war
preparation made our industrial
participation possible.
II is perhaps bootleSs dis
cussion, but when men of the
present war-Eeneration 60 out Of
the way TO say that we are now
farther along than we were last
'hiN oi WIS SldEt vi lnuuSIIldl
preparation they should know
their facts.
T e most telling charge
against them is that, with the
experience Of the last war
documented before their eyes.
they are not at least two years
more advanced.
They have neglected the los
sons Of the past. They have per-
mitted the experience of a
quarter century ago to pass for
nothing. When they did adopt it,.
they did so without understand
ing hearts. with closed eyes. and
too little ard too late.
The less said about all this
the better. Bets buckle-to and
do the job now. That is what
the country needs and expects.
Distributed by King Features Synd.. Inc.
Reproduction In whole or In part
strictly prohibited