Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-01-30
0PM FUNCTIONS
TRANSFERRED TO
new BOARD

Chairman Nelson of the War Pro-
duction Board abolished the OPM and
transferred its functions regarding
production, purchasing, priorities,
materials, civilian supply and sub
contracting to a new streamlined or
ganization under the Board. In add
ton, Mr.. Nelson created under the
new Board a progress reporting and
a planning unit to suggest improve
lnents from time to time.
Mr.. Nelson stressed two fundamen-
tai differences between the old and
new organizations; an increased a
mount of authority and more def
mite delegation of responsibility to
promote speed. He said the main OBJ
jective of the new organization was
the full mobilization in the war eff
fort of every national resource, large
and small.
Mr.. Nelson named Ernest Kanzler
to convert auto industry facilities to
war use. Mr.. Kanzler will have com
plete authority to do whatever is nee
essary, Mr.. Nelson said. He said he
expected to appoint as many other
men with similar authority for other
industries as are necessary.
President Roosevelt told his press
conference an inter-allied supply
council and similar joint demands are
in existence, and excellent progress
IS being made to strengthen the posi-
ton of the United Nations in the
Southwest Pacific.
The Army announced Gen. Mac
Arthur's forces have repulsed contin-
uous heavy attacks by reinforced Jap
anese units on Bataan Peninsula, in
flicting heavy losses on the enemy
with comparatively low losses to the
defenders. The entire Japanese 18th
Army together with other units, land
ed on Luzon. U. S. Army forces sank
a Japanese cruiser and large tanker
100 miles off Jolo, and shot down Is
enemy planes in the Philippines.
The Navy announced the freighter
SIS Brazos was sunk in collision 100
miles southwest of Cape Hatteras,
and during the past week Uboats
sank the City of Atlanta, the Latvian
freighter Ciltvaira, the tankers Coim-
bra and Allan Jackson, and torpepoed
the tanker Malay. The Navy did not
announce number of U-boats sunk or
captured but said "some of the recent
visitors to our territorial waters will
never enjoy the return trip portion
CT their voyage" The U. S. Navy
sank three enemy merchant ships off
Tokyo Bay and torpedocd a 5,000-ton
enemy vessel in Binanga Bay.
The Officc of Facts and Figures,
coordinating the information activi
ties of all Federal agencies to keep
the public informed of the war effort,
issued 62-page booklet, Report to
the Nation" outlining the defense
and war programs from the begin
ming to the present. In separate chap
tiers the report discusses price con-
troll activities, alien control, economic
warfare, production of all necessary
war items, civilian defense, war finan-
cling and all other phases of the ma
tional effort.
The WPB ordered all production of
iorh4
any purpose halted February 1. The
announcement of the order said all
demands can be filled from
the stockpile of autos that will be or
hand by that date and which cannot
be sold without Government perfilis-
sion. OPA announced that there is
no prospect of rationing for used
cars or of communicating of private
cars. OPA amended the auto freez-
ing order to permit transfer Of title
to any vehicle under the terms of in
stallment contracts drawn up before
January 1 and repossession of any We
hicle involved in a breach of SUCH con-
tract. The agency also amended its
tire freezing rules to allow clergymen
to purchase new tires and tubes. OPA
put ceiling price on materials used
in retreading used tires.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion granted railroads permission to
increase passenger fares 10 percent.
Exempt from the increase ae special
faes granted to military or naval men
on furlough. Permission was also
granted to the Railway Express A
gency, Inc, to make an emergency
additions: charge of 10 cents per
package sent at first, second or third
class rates.
The President said the United Ma
tions are collaborating with the u. S.
to effect transfers to the American
armed service of the Americans who
had enlisted before the war under for