Evening star., 1942-01-11

THIS huge Lockheed aircraft
plant, at Burbank, Calit., is but
one of many spraUling plane fac
tories which are stepping up pro-
duction at tremendous rates since
PeaH Harbor. Here Lockheed
Hudson bombers are being turned
out Dith accelerated speed. This
general Dte,D shoDs one section OF
the assembly plant, tuhere the fast
and powertul American bombers
are assembled and subjected to
final construction operations.
Associated Press Photo.
Government would like labor to accept
time -and-a-haf for all overtime ire
spective of whether 1t Is Saturday or
Sunday. Labor has been asking double
time here and there. It is kink still to
be irored out.
But the machine tool industry is doing
a remarkable Job. Corporations like
Warner & Swasey in Cleveland have
been sble to expand their facilities rap
idly. The whole machine tool industry
is littf known to the average reader but
it has leaders who are as much key fac
tors IL defense as are the better known
names of the airplane or tank field.
Subcontracts Let.
With the machine tools available to
our industrial managements, We can turn
out tanks and engines on mass produc-
ton basis. In the making Of vital parts
the whole program is full of subcontract-
ing While the Army and Navy awarded
contracts to a relatively small number
of firms, the subcontracting goes to tens
of thousands of small firms.
Politics. however, has been messing the
picture somewhat. Some small bust.
nesses regrettahly injured by the cur
tailmeat of civilian production, are using
their influence on Capitol Hill to get
contracts If this war is a huge w. p. A.,
the war program can be impaired BY
trying to allot contracts on q relief basis.
If it's serious war, then contract allot-
ment must go to the firms who know
how o. who have made articles compar-
able to those now needed. The Army
and Navy have favored the expansion Of
existing plants or the integrating of new
units With old. But in the $150, ,000, ,000,-
900 program there will be work aplenty
for even the smaller businesses that have
been engaged in civilian production. 1t
will take time to make the transition.
But have we the raw materials? This
is an an-important question. The an
swer II that we have more than enough
- 80 ifov- hy,f
there will be little in some instances for
civilian use- Thus the rubber supply is
enough for the needs on a military basis,
but unless we can open up a convoy
system to the Netherlands East Indies to
protect cargoes, we will have little rubber
for civilian use.
Raw Materials Sufficient.
Synthetic rubber progress is about as
rapid as can be expected and the Gov
ernmnt is moving quickly to increase
guayue production and other substitutes
for the rubber that has been coming to
us from Dutch possessions.
The central raw material is steel. We
have 5 capacity Of more than 10000, 900
tons 8 year. Military uses might be as
much as 10000. 900 tons. Japan has q
total capacity Of only 5000. 900 tons. Ger
many and her occupied areas can pro-
duce enough for her military needs, but
it is doubtful whether special steels are
availsSle in as great quantities as the
Allies possess.
On fuel we are well supplied. We have
more than enough oil for combat and
better quality than any other nation in
the world. Our aviation gasoline is un-
surpassed For this the scientific men Of
the American oil companies are to be
commended for their research.
We are assuming a constant supply of
tin from Bolivia and other raw materials
from Central and South America, and
we shall be able to protect the cargoes as
well sas, or better than, they have been
protected across the Atlantic to Europe.
While there viii Re occasional 'inkins'