Evening star., 1942-08-23

The Office of War Information
issued yesterday the tollo,Oing state
nlent on ,Ddr production:
Munitions production increased 16
per cent last month, continuing re-
cent months expansion in the out
put of planes, guns, tanks, ships and
other war equipment, Donald NJ Mel
son. War Production Board chair
man, announced today in his second
war production report.
Although progress was uneven.
and efforts are being directed toward
bringing about balance between pro-
duction items, the WPB index of
munitions production advanced in
July to $50 (preliminary)-three and
one-half times as great as in No.
vember, 1941. the month before Pearl
Harbor, upon which the index is
based The June index revised)
was 303.
But July output was per, cent
short of the production forecasts
made on the f1rst of the month. 1t
was, nevertheless, an improvement
over June performance. indicating
that progress is being made in
working up toward scheduled objec-
tives.
In brief, the score on war ,produc-
ton for July (measured by the in
dex) was as follows:
Aircraft production-Up II per
cent over June.
Ordnance production-Up Is per
cent over June.
Naval ship proouction-Up % per
cent over June.
Merchant ship tonnage-Up 6 per
cent over June.
THE big job ahead OF us right
now," said Mr.. Nelson, lis to bring
our program into balance and make
sure that we use our materials and
facilities as wisely as possible. This
is one of the principal tasks or
which the WPB is engaged. We
must make sure that we produce
promptly those most-importan'
fighting weapons the services mus
have; in addition, we must speed up
the slow items and slow down some
of the fast ones, so that the unbal-
ance which now marks part Of the
program is brought into adjustment
This means that we must re-
double our efforts. particularly on
the low spots, If we are to make Our
goals by the years end, and the re-
cent realignment Of WPB, plus the
further development Of scheduling
and use of the production require
ments plan-now our basic device
for controlling industrial operations
are all designed to help us do this
job.
This War Department, Navy De.
partment and Maritime Commission
thus far have scheduled production
semi independently This has re-
suited in some scheduling anead OF
overall productive capacity. Fore
casts of production have peen in
creased several times. Now, since II
will be difficult task to meet al
schedules, it is more than ever nee
essary to reconcile our needs with
our resources, necessitating the ad.
justment of schedules, reducing
some, and, perhaps, increasing
others.
Continuing month-to-month in.
: creases in munitions production, de.
( spite difficulties in the supply oI
: some raw materials and semi-fin.
S ished products, reflects the determi
nation of the American people t
l overcome all obstacles. Available
statistics show that plant shutdown
t and stoppages so far are only spo
= radio, not general. Any inference
I that the war effort as whole i
slowing down is unwarranted, al
i though difficulties in maintainin,
n such large monthly increases viii
), become greater as we approach
= maximum output This will meal
= increased planning, increased effor
S and firm use of the production con
S trolls and materials controls tina
= have been developed
e Study of the results reveals tha
production is uneven in relation Z