Evening star., 1942-01-18
Steps Home East Peril Increases

For the Job, Mr.. Roosevelt picked
Donald M. Nelson, mail-order merchan-s
diser who has been one Of the most
aggressive and single-minded beat the
Axis" big businessmen yet brought into
the defense and war effort.
AS the machinery for doing the Job.
the President wiped out the Supply
Priorities and Allegations
Bio Boss Board and replaced it with a
Nelson War Production Board. And
to insure no slack between
intention and reality, the executive order
creating the agency and defining Mr..
Nelson's powers was written partly by
Mr.. Nelson himself.
Precisely and without qualification 1t
gives to the board chairman unques-
toned authority to lay out all phases
Of the military production and procure
ment programs Of all established Gov.
eminent departments, and specific super
vision over O. p. M. with the right to
replace any personnel.
On Friday President Roosevelt named
w. 8. Knudsen director Of production
for the War Department and said he=
would be nominated for rank Of lieu.
tenant general in the United States
Army.
This reformation in administration OF
Nations production program came al
most simultaneously with release Of
initial report by Senate investigating
committee. asserting that dollar-a-year
men had functioned as lobbyists, that
no material conversion Of automobile
industry has yet been attempted, that
small industry has been generally over
looked, that outdeted airplanes are being
supplied, and that private profts have
been unreasonably high.
A preview of what is in store on the
military front was given on Thursday
when Secretary of War Stimson an
nounced that the Army will be expanded
by the end of this year to $500. .000-'.
an increase of about 1900. 900.
In this gigantic fighting force, and
even greater numbers were forecast for
1943, some 1000 900 men will
Doubled be in the Air Corps. For the
Army infantry branch, 80 new tri-
angular divisions are con-
templated.
War came close to American shores
on Wednesday when the Navy DEPART
ment revealed that a tanker, later identi-
fed as the Norness, under Panamanian
flag had been torpedoed so miles south
east of Montauk Point, Long Island.
Rescue ships from Newport and New
London picked up survivors, learned that
an unidentified submarine had fired into
both port and starboard of stricken ship.
Less than "a hours later another tank
er the Coimbra of British registry, was
sunk in same Atlantic area
At Rio de Janeiro, American good
neighbor policies of the past decade went
| under critical test in this past week as
| 81 republics of this half of the world
met for consideration Of their joint prac-
tices In the face Of Axis aggression.
Nearly a dozen Of these already were at
fully declared war with one or all Of the
Axis partners, all others had indicated
their sympathies with the cause of their
hemisphere neighbors, but binding decla-
rations Of active cooperation were being
sought now.
Under skillful guidance of United
States Undersecretary of State Sumner
Welles and Brazil's Foreign Minister
Oswaldo Aranha prospects for united
front and unqualified expressions loomed
bright as week ended, even Argentina
principal question mark of group-indi.
eating accord