Evening star., 1942-01-01
Huge 1941 Volume
To Be More Than
Doubled in 1912
s12,7oo, 900, 900 Worth
Of Orders Completed
During Lost Year

OuIln9 IOSt ieuI
By Camhridse Associates.
Well before the outbreak of war
defense production was really get
ting into stride. If goals seemed still
far from attainment it should not be
forgotten that those goals had been
set high, that in many cases plants
as we'll as machinery had to start
at the drafting table and blueprint
stage.
That s12,7oO, 100000 worth of de-
fense contracts were completed IN
1941 and contracts OF more than
double that amount are con-
fidently scheduled for completion IN
1912 is the quickest summary of the
miracles that have been accom-
plished.
The beginning of the shooting
war" sets askeW all the predictions
that might have been based on the
normal acceleration of defense pro-
duction. Business is no longer as
unsual, but a seven-day, 24-hour
speed-up drive with the "No-Stops
sign set for the duration. With such
a program no one can vaguely guess
the planes, tanks, guns and ships
that will be produced in 1912.
194l Gains Reviewed.
It Is worthwhile, however, to re-
view some of the things that have
been accomplished and the produc-
ton schedule that was set while
we were still in the stage of neu-
tral belligerency.
In 1889, our aircraft production
for the full year, was 2.400 planes.
Approximately that exact number
were produced in the month of De-
cember. Total production for the
full 1910 twelvemonth is placed at
more than 10000 planes. In the
late months of the year the output
included far higher proportion of
combat planes, pursuit ships and
light and medium bombers, than it
did in the beginning of 1941 when
training planes bulked large in the
monthly totals.
The goal once established was
$4,000 fighting planes a year BY
the end of the new year. now per-
haps before that time, the rate OF
production is expected to reach 60
per cent of the desired rate with
total production for the year estl-
mated at $4,000 or better.
Heavy Bombers Needed.
The big drive now is for produc-
ton of the heavy, long-range bomb
ers for British use as well as our
own. The goal here was 500 a
month and results so far have been
disappointing. With the new de-
mands and the new incentives, how
ever, both the goal and the rate OF
achievement are due to be lifted.
The United States started its tank
program from scratch. There was
hardly set of plans ready in June
1910 and such working data as were
available had to be quickly revised
in the light Of actual Uad expert
ence. According to William S.
Knudsen. o. P. NJ. director. light
and medium tanks are being turned
out at the rate of one-third of the
o. P. NJ. goal of $500 tanks per
month. American tanks are being
tested under fire on the sands OF
Libya and appear to be giving a
nf
In the production OF guns and
ammunition we are about half way
toward peak production although
what that is ranks as q mystery II
not a military secret. In the pro-
duction of any war essential peaks
from now on will be determined only
bv the limitations of men, materials
and time.
So far as the production OF Army
equipment and naval aircraft are
concerned. our forces have had to
be content with the material re-
manning after the most urgent Al
lied needs have been taken care of
Now. inevitably. our own forces
must have priority rating OF thell
own while the needs of the British
Russians, Chinese and Netherlands
are no less and our desire to keer
them effectively in the fight is even
greater.
Job Is Tremendous.
The production and transport Jot
Is obviously tremendous one which
will cut greatly into normal civilian
use of vital raw materials. par
ticularly steel and rubber. BY dl'
version of civilian supplies, how
ever, there should be the materials
and capacity to accomplish mos
of the work expected of us.
Ship losses in the Atlantic have
dropped from a peak of sol 900 ton!
in April to a probable average O.
155, 900 tons for the final month"; o.
the year for which specific monthly
figures are not available. Tht
United States alone is now building
merchant tonnage at the rate O.
something like 100000 tons month
Although the demand for mer'
chant ships-and the danger tt
them-is increased by late devel
opments, the wider and more inten
siied use of the United States Nav,
patrol in the Atlantic is bringing
an end to the biggest part of thu
U-boat threat in that area unles
the German high command ha
something unknown in the way o
undersea attack up its sleeve.
Naval Program Rushed.
Construction of fighting ships i
proceeding rapidly and every effor
will be made to get them in com
mission ahead of schedule. Fifteol
battleships. II aircraft carriers, 3
cruisers. 191 destroyerS, and 73 sub
marines were being built when wa
broke out. Night-and-day effor
will place many of these ships, par
ticularly those of the lighter type
in service next year.
A