The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-15
DEFENSE PLANS
 ARE SHARPLY HIT
(Contlnued from Page D
Other Criticisms

The report was critical too of the automobile industry and aviation production. It cited the near S1 ,0OO,- 100000 profits reported by the three major automobile companies for l940 and the first nine months of l94l as refutation of the argument that taxes take away all their profits. It expressed belief that many strikes for higher wages were caused by em- ploys noting the tremendous prof it's of defense industries.
 The report revealed in spectacular proportions the enormous task Nell son and the nation now are under taking.
 In addition to Truman, the com mlttee comprised Sens. Tom Con- nally, D., Tex, James M Mead, N. r., Mon c. Wallgren, D., Wash, Carl A. Hatch, D., N, M., Clyde L. Her ring, D., Ia, Harley M. Kilgore, D., w. Va, Joseph H. Ball, R. Minn., Ralph o. Brewster, R., Me, and Styles Bridges, R. N. II.
 In general introduction to the report, the committee said: "Carelessness and inefIiciency have already cost us great deal and, if continued, can cost us much more, even though in the long run we will Win the war because of the sheer ex- tent Of our resources"
 It pointed out that a select com mittee of parliament has been in- Vestlgating the British defense and has aided the British war effort. | There is a natural tendency on the part Of those whose conduct is the subject of scrutiny to suggest 1 that review of their acts is a waste of time," the report said. But the committee believes that the matters already developed during the few months of the committees existence amply demonstrate the wisdom of the British policy of in- vestigating the war effort while it is i current instead of the French policy o1 assigning the guilt after the l event"
 Can Be Attained
 The armament goals set by the president can be attained If we have the will to do it, it said, warn ing that 1t would require consider able sacrifice and toll.
 Alter two years of frantic effort, we have too few planes to allow adequate flying time to our own pilots. ,' the report said. Further more, only about 25 per cent of our present production is of combat types considered to be equal to or superior to the best types produced abroad.
 The prospects for future produc- ton are not too good"
 The report also charged the auto mobile industry failed to convert its facilities to defense production and actually produced more automobiles in l94l than 1t did in 1940 Rather than convert it's facilities, the indus try insisted on building new plans with government aid, for the few armament articles 1t delivered.
 At the outbreak of war in Sep tember, 1939, this nation had only skeleton" air forces and the situa- ton today IS little better, the report said. Lack of standardization has handicapped production of military planes of all types with the excep- ton of the flying fortress bomber"
 "On the drawing boards we have many performing pursuit ships but III January, 1942, very few will be produced which can be considered better than mediocre, and there will be no long-range pursuits, a type so Vltally needed for our present opera tons" the report said.
 l There are approximately 60 air plane factories in the nation today which have been unable to obtain any substantial place" in the de- fense program but which have a monthly capacity of 1000 planes. 'Too much consideration cannot be given the fact that facilities of these companies are existing facili- ties which could be put to work with a minimum If difficulty" the report said. They are not facilities which must be built or converted from some other field"