Milford chronicle., 1942-07-31
A WEEK OF THE WAR

A WEEK OF THE WAR
: The U. S. overall output o.
planes, tanks, ships, guns and am
munition during June was nearly
three times that of last November
the month before Pearl Harbor
: War Production Chairman Nelson
reported. Mr.. Nelson stated, how
ever, too much boasting about
production progress is altogether
premature-the biggest part of the
job is still ahead" Any letup now
he said, would means years more
of war and hundreds of thousand
more lives"
Chairman Nelson, as an index oi
the nations productive effort, es-
timated that approximately 36 per
cent of the U. SIS record breaking
income during the first six months
of this year went into military
channels. This compares, he said,
to the so to rs per cent of total
income being spent by Great Brit
ain and Germany.
The War Production Board an
nounced it will concentrate pro-
duction of civilian goods in certain
plants and regions as much as pos
sible. The Board said, as a general
rule, small plants will be kept in
civilian production and large
plants will be required to suspend
civilian production. Civilian pro-
duction will be restricted or sus-
pended in regions where labor is
urgently needed in war plants or
where power shortages are likely
to occur.
RatiOning
Price Administrator Henderson
reported gasoline coupon counter
feiters had been peddling bogus
ration books in the East and stated
these "saboteurs attacking our war
program" will be prosecuted
promptly and vigorously. All per-
sons found to be in possession of
the counterfeit books, he said, are
liable to have their lregHlariy is
sued ration books either revoked or
withheld. Because of delays in OBJ
tanning gasoline rationing coupon
books, the OPA said service sta
tions may sell gasoline on "cou-
pom credit" basis until midnight
July 81.
The OPA increased tire and tube
quotas for August and said 10000
bicycles will be made available for
rationing in August as compared
with $4,000 in July. The Office said
only trucks engaged in services es-
sential to the war effort or public
health and safety will be entitled
to recapped or new tires after July
28 under drastic revision of the
tire rationing regulations. The OPA
published names and addresses of
field Representatives who may be
called upon by tire dealers, recap
pers, truck operators and other
users of tires for aid in solving
problems arising under the ration
ing regulations.
Maximum Prices and Rents
Price Administrator Henderson
reported Government controls of
prices and rents, where they are in
effect, are doing good job of hold
ing down prices, but uncontrolled
food prices are showing a definite
.infiationary tendency" He said
the total cost of food to city fam
lilies advanced by 1.3 per cent be-
tween May Is and June Is, contin-
uing the steady upward price trend
of the previous IA months and off
setting the benefits of price control
on all foodstuffs covered by the
general regulation"
Mr.. Henderson said housewives
and other members of the buying
public will acquire the legal right,
beginning July 81, to bring civil
suits for damages against any
storekeeper who charges more than
OPA regulations permit. The pur-
chaser is entitled to recover $50 in
damages plus attorneys fees or
triple the amount of the overcharge
plus attorneys fees, whichever is
larger. Similar suits may be filed
in defense rental areas against
landloards who collect rents above
those permitted by OPA orders.
The Office reported it has desig-
mated 80 areas as defense rental
areas and by August 1 rent regu-
lations will become effective in "a
of these areas.
Agriculture Secretary Wickard
announced a price adjustment and
subsidy program designed to ease
the temporary shortage of meats in
Eastern States and some parts of
the midwest. The OPA asked
livestock and meat packing indus
tries to maintain supply of meats
in all normal trade channels ra-
ther than concentrate shipments to
large cities where ceiling prices
are relatively high.
The War Front
The Navy reported U. S. subma-
rines in Far Eastern waters have
sunk another Japanese destroyer,
a medium-sized tanker, three car
go ships, and possibly a fourth
cargo ship. The Navy said all of
its large submarines are being fit
ed with cameras designed to fit over
the eye piece of the periscope to
record the results of submarine at
tacks on the enemy. Maj. Gen.
Lewis H. Brereton, Commander of
the Air Forces in the Middle East,
said American air forces caused
heavy damage to enemy docks and