Evening star., 1942-01-22
Arms Output 10 Reach
Peak by Summer, oil
EQimson Says M
Gen. Knudsen Credited
With Loyins Foundation
For Huge Production
By NELSON M. SHEPARD.

8 BY NELSON M. SHEPAkD.
Secretary Of War Stimson declared
today that output Of bombers. tanks,
munitions and other equipment for
the expanded needs of the Army
will reach gigantic proportions" In
the spring and peak production by
summer.
He credited 1t. Gen. william Q.
Knudsen, new directo; Of proaue-
ton and procurement for the War
Department, with laying the
foundation" for this huge produc-
ton to equip an army Of $4,000
men this year.
Gen. Knudsen, who was given his
rank this week, surprised reporters
at today's press conference by ap-
pearing in civilian clothes. Under
wartime regulations all officers Of
the Army are now In uniform.
The Secretary explained: Mr.
1t. Gen. Knudsen thinks he could
shoot trouble better without q uni
form for the present"
2 New Armored Divisions.
Secretary Stimson also disclosed
that the Army will organize q new
armored division Of 10000 officers
and men next month as a start in
the program to increase the present
armored force Of the Nation to more
than twice its present size. The new
division, the 9Th, Is now assembling
at Fort Knox, KY, and will soon be
given a permanent station.
Mr.. Stimson spoke encouragingly
about the production program and
the sharp rise in its curve since last
summer, commenting that all Army
units needed for immediate Use in
the United States or its outposts
already have been equipped 100 per
cent.
Mostly Medium Tanks.
The new division at Fort Knox
will be so organized as to permit
the fast formation Of two or more
powerful combat teams. 1t will have
a preponderance Of the medium,
28-ton tanks which are comparable
in size to the average weight Of the
Nazi heavy tanks. The two tank
regiments will each have two bat
talions of mediums and one battal-
ion of light tanks, which are about
13 tons. Since speed is essential.
the division will be fully equipped
with armored cars and several hun
dred 14-ton troop-carrying cars.
Commissioned cadres for all ele-
ments Of the 9Th Armored Division
already have started to move at
Fort Knox, as well as carefully
selected enlisted specialists.
Plans for increasing the oppor-
tunities of Negro service in the
Army also were announced. A
complete triangular infantry di-
vision, to be known as the 93d,
and a new colored unit of the air
forces, the Tooth Pursuit Squadron,
are about to be organized.
The infantry division is the first
of its kind for colored troops. 1t
will be stationed at Fort Huachu-
ca, Ariz. -..-..-
Second CoIered Air Unit.
The Tooth Pursuit Squadron will
be the Army's second colored air
unit. The 99th Pursuit Squadron
has been in training since Sep
tember at Tuskegee, Ala.
Colored troops in the Army in
clude important cavalry. coast arr
tillery. infantry, quartermaster, sig
nal. engineer, ordnance. anti-air-
craft and chemical warfare units.
There are also colored medical de-
tatchments, including Army nurses.
Four regiments, the 1s4th Field
Artillery. 372d Infantry. 3s6th In
fantry and the 369th Coast Artil-
lery, are completely officered by
colored officers from neutenants to
colonies.
The War Department stressed to-
day that colored enlisted men are
also included among those attend
ing various officer candidate schools
from which the Army will obtain
the major portion Of commissioned
personnel.
Training for Divisional Officers.
Mr.. Stimson disclosed that in the
process Of special Army training for
wartime all divisional officers, in
cluding line and staff officers, will
receive intensive instruction de-
signed to weld them into closely
knit combat teams before joining
new units.
The new training will center on
tactical employment of anti-tank
and anti-aircraft weapons, COM
munications and teamwork for all
staff officers.
Approximately 500 officers of the
first three triangular infantry di-
visions to be organized under the
new Army expansion plan will be
assigned to these courses. In all
80 new infantry divisions are to be
IL