Evening star., 1942-12-13
Nelson Order
Ends All Doubt
Wilson Is Boss
a Strong Directives
Delegate Full Powers
On Arms Production
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.

In a move deSCrlDeQ as leaving
little doubt as to who Is boss
over production Chairman
Donald M. Nelson of the War
Production Board has issued
four directives delegating to
WPB Vice Chairman Charles E.
Wilson full authority to direct all
scheduling and production pro-
grams of the armed services, it
was learned last night.
The orders, signed Friday, were
Worded much more strongly than
the statement of policy regarding
Mr.. Wilson's new duties issued a
week ago by Mr.. Nelson, when an
nouncement was made by WPB and
the Army and Navy that full
agreement" had been reached end
ing the fight for production control.
Then it was stated vaguely that
Mr.. Wilson would be used in a
supervisory" capacity over schedul-
ing.
Mr.. Wilson is empowered to in
quire into and integrate all muni-
tions scheduling and production
programs of the Army. Navy, Mari
time Commission and Lease-Lend,
as we'll as authority over programs
for civilians and other Government
agencies. He was told to give special
attention to the programs of air.
craft, radio and detector equipment
and escort vessels, ito whip them
into line"
Gets Broad Powers.
In addition, Mr. Wilson is given
power to issue directives on pro-
duction to the Army and Navy, and
the authority to see that the orders
are carried out. He may demand
of the services any information con-
corning individual schedules and
production matters he desires.
This latter point was considered
highly important, since WPB off,
cials say the services in the past
have withheld production details
from them which made it impos-
sible for WPB to tell how we'll
schedules were being handled.
Mr.. Wilson may, if he sees fit, set
up an inspection organization to
see to it that production schedules
are carried out in the way he be-
lieves they should be, so that the
things the chiefs of staff say are
necessary to win the war will be
produced in the shortest possible
time.
WPB officials were certain that
Mr.. Wilson now has sufficient power
Ito do a job on production" which
was the job he was brought to
Washington three months ago to
handle. He has been reported dis
satisfied with what little authority
was given him in the past, and not
too pleased with the outline of his
duties as drawn by Mr.. Nelson a
week ago. There have been nu-
merous reports that Mr.. Wilson was
ready to return to the General Elec-
trio Co, which he headed before
coming to the Capital.
Agreement in Principle.
Officials said they did not know
whether the Army and Navy had
agreed specifically to the new Nell
son directives. They were sure
agreement had been reached "in
principle They pointed out that
the Wilson judgment was so sound
that most of the military would be
willing to fellow his recommends
tions. One official said Mr.. Wilson
was strong man" and that he
would be able to knock heads to-
gether IF the Nelson directives
lacked any needed power.
Mr.. Wilson's orders will be issued
through the Production Executive
Committee. of which he is chair
man. Other members include 1t.
Gen. Brehon B. Somervell, chief of
the Army Services of Supply; Mai.
Gen. Oliver P. Echols, chief of the
materiel command, Army Air
Forces; Vice Admiral S. M. Robin
son, Navy director of procurement
and materials; Rear Admiral Ralph
Dawson, assistant chief, Navy Bur-
eau OF Aeronautics; Rear Admiral
Howard l.. Vickery, vice chairman of
the Maritime Commission. and
Ferdinand Eberstadt, program vice
chairman of WPB.
The two most important Nelson
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