Evening star., 1942-07-09
Nelson 'Re-A|igns'
WPB 10 Gear Output
To War Strategy
Spores Munitions Boord
And Names Bott
Vice Chuirmon

gear, was announced late yester-
day by Production Chief Donald M.
Nelson
In announcing creation of four
new Offices Mr.. Nelson said the
move should be considered a
"reahgnment of production with
war strategy" and not a reorgan-
ization of the WPB. A shaking
down of organization for a new
phase of war effort Is necessary, he
said
Mr.. Nelson did not sound the
death knell of the Army and Navy
Munitions Board, which had been
widely predicted. He said some
parts OF the boards activities may
be merged with WPB to eliminate
overlappings. The board, he said,
serves a very useful purpose.
Silent on Reported Dispute.
The production chief made no
mention of reported struggle"
with 1t. Gen Brehon B. Somer-
veil, chief of the Army's Service OF
Supply, for control of the Nations
war economy. In defining the work
of the services and WPB Mr.. Nell
son said:
TT is not up to us to tell the Army
and Navy what they want. But 1t
is up to us to tell them when the
supply gets so short that program
must be changed
The tremendous job of re-tooling
and converting large industries from
manufacture of civilian goods such
as automobiles to making machines
of war now has been accomplished,
Mr.. Nelson said.
The new job ahead, he continued,
Is one of controlling production by
directing the flow of limited raw
materials into the manufacture OF
things the Army and Navy needs,
and essential goods necessary to the
civilian population.
War Put First.
He said first consideration must
be given to war requirements.
Shortages of certain war materials,
he added, may make it necessary
to examine schedules of the Army
and Navy.
Mr.. Nelson appeared optimistic
concerning war production in dis
cussing the changes about to be
made within mis- organization.
Some of the changes are designed,
he said, to lift the administrative
burden from his shoulders to free
him for vital policy settling work.
Mr.. Nelson described his new role
as an umpire" in directing the flow
of materials and apportioning it
for use of the services and civilians,
and above all in keeping production
going
Mr.. Nelson stressed that the supply
of raw materials is the only limiting
factor in our production Of machines
and materials of war. He said in
ventory control is very important
function when materials become
scarce. inventories will be watched
closely to make sure materials are
distributed where most needed.
Names Bait Deputy.
To serve as his assistant and
deputy, Mr. Nelson named as vice
chairman of WPB, William L. Bait,
who has been chairman OF the
Requirements Committee Mr.. Bait
will take over many of the boards
administrative duties. help Mr.. Mel
son determine policies and direct
operations.
The production head appointed
James l.. Knowlson to the newly
created post of vice chairman on
program determination. He also will
serve as Mr.. Nelson's deputy on the
Combined Production and Resources
Board international WPB and will
be chairman of the Requirements
Committee, vacated by Mr.. Bait.
Mr.. Nelson created another post
that of director general OF operations
Ito which he appointed Amory
Houghton, former deputy chief OF the
Bureau of Industry Branches. MI
Nelson explained his duties by say
ing; Just as all of the program
development work is brought to-
eether under Mr.. Knowlson. all OF
the operational work-including the
industry and material branches, ap-
propriate bureaus, and the field or
ranization is brought together
Under the director general Of opera
tons"
Leaves High Post Unified.
The position of deputy chairman
on program progress was created
though left untitled, by Mr.. Nelson,
He said this officer will be WPB's
inspector general" will foiio"
program progress to anticipate DOT
tlenecks. to detect the causes OF
anv failure and to see that neces-
sary corrective steps are taken.
Formation of Smaller war
plants Corp, in line with leglsla-
tion recently passed by Congress
also was announced It's job Will oe
tn direct the more active partlclpa-
ton in the war effort OF small IN
dustries. It's chairman, to be nameo
later. will be a deputy chairman OF
WPB.
Outlines Objectives,
IA written statement accom-
pIny:ng the announcements Mi
V,lson said:
"One of the most important parts
of the new structure is the fact
that 1t gives WPB, first, closer
relationship to the broad strategic
picture and, second, a closer rela,
tionship to the other Government
agencies which have responsibility
for various parts of the war pro-
gram"
He said the realignment accom-
pIishes these things:
TT clears the decks TO MAKE
controlling and expediting the flow
of materials the boards central ell
fort.
TT brings the board into closer
touch with military and interna.
tional production requirements and
increases the boards actlVltles In
overall war production strategy.
1T strengthens the topslde pol
Icy. programming and progress-re-
Wartime ORGANIZATION of WPB.