Evening star., 1942-11-17

now it must arm not only itself but
its associates.
Remedies Prepared.
Probably on the way is some form
of national conscription, direct or
indirect. This country still lags far
behind Great Britain In conversion
Of man and woman power to war
Industry and in per capita output
Of military goods. Among remedies
adopted or under consideration are
reduction of the draft age to 10,
registration of womeen, consolida-
tion Of the Manpower Commission
and selective service system, en-
forcement OF uniform procedure on
State draft boards and an embargo
on voluntary enlistment recruiting
by Navy, Marine Corps and Army
Air Forces, which amounts to ire
sponsible raids on farm and in
dustrial labor.
The view of officials advocating
direct action is that voluntary or
ganization of manpower has had 4
thorough trial, in which it was dem
onstrated that coercion is necessary
to utilize the country's 60,000, 900
availables. In June, 1910, there
we're 8,100, 900 people in civilian en-
ployment and the armed forces. The
figure in June of this year rose to
81 ,000, 900, the increment being sup
piled by a drop Of 6,000, 900 In the
number OF unemployed and an in
crease of the labor force by 5000, 900.
half due to normal growth and half
to teen-age boys and girls who quit
school for work, to women entering
industry and to retired workers
going back to jobs. Employment
and armed service will total 62,5O0,-
600 in December, 1943. according to
an estimate of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
There are serious general labor
shortages in IS major centers OF war
production. including Los Angeles,
Seattle. Detroit. Buffalo and Phila-
delphia. Needless migration con-
tinues and labor pirating remains
uncnecked. In other localities arti-
ficial labor deficiencies exist because
of discrimination against woman
workers and members of minority
groups. Workers already employed
in war plants are frequently used
at much less than full capacity.
Ship Output Delayed.
The Bureau of Ships had made an
admirable record in construction,
but had delayed the landing-boat
program for a year, and with it the
possibility OF second front, by
insisting on a design Of its own
instead of superior model offered
by Andrew j. Higgins of New
Orleans. According to the Truman
Committee. the Higgins boat had
gate-end from which tanks could
be driven swiftly and efficiently,
while the Navy models exit was SO
narrow that three men could not
walk off abreast.
The invasion boat program, COM
prising thousands of craft, large and
small, did not get under way until
May Of this year. Another handicap
is shortage Of engines and gears for
naval ships of every type.
Economies undertaken in the
armed services are said to be cor
recting former specifications, rigid
and luxurious, which were more
suitable to brass hat" dreams Of
grandeur than to the facts of pro-
duction. There were Hollywood"
airfields and elaborate military
bases which devoured materials
needed on the firing line. These
specifications are under study, in
the light of actual production pos
sibilities. ..
Lack Ship Control.
Lack of control over loading and
unloading in the ports Of the world
has cost hundreds of thousands of
tons of shipping. There was until
lately no directing force to expedite
cargoes to docks and then onto YES
sells or to make sure that strategic
rather than profitable shipments
were carried. At times 50 to 60 ships
have waited to load or unload out
side one foreign harbor or another.
Formerly the War Shipping Admin
istration had only II experts" to