The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1942-12-10
Much Done
In First year
Of War
Converting Nation To
About Efforts Proves
Tremendous Task.
TELLS WHAT HAS
BEEN ACCOMPLISHED

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The
First Year on the Home Front
The first year of war was the
year of the production race-the
race to catch up with the advantage
which long preparation had given
to our enemies, and to surpass that
advantage. We have caught up, and
we are beginning to pass our adj
versaries But the race is still
long way from the finish line, and
many hurdles remain to be cleared.
In that year, these things had to
be done--raising, equipping, train
ing, and transporting an army, pro-
ducing a huge volume of weapons,
materials and food for our own
fighting forces and those of our
Allies-and refashioning our civil
ian economy to permit it to func-
ton with maximum efficiency
1t would have been difficult
had been time to work out the basic
plans and the details of organiza
ton and function. But there was no
time. The enemy, knowing that
this year was to be crucial, was
pressing on every front Our tasks
had to be carried forward in a
hurry. 1t was necessary to meet the
requirements Of the next day and
yet provide the basic plant and or
ganization for the still greater re-
quirements of the next year.
Viewed in this light, the overall
accomplishments of the past year
have been considerable, despite mis-
takes and shortcomings in details.
Measured against the yardstick of
the Presidents production goals of
last January, we produced great
deal but not enough in every cate
CORY.
In the year 1912 we shall have
produced approximately.
$4,000 planes
$4,000 tanks and self-propelled
artillery
1900 anti-aircraft guns larger
than 20 nm
100000 tons of merchant ship
ping.
Goal Not Quite Reached
While we have reached the goal
i'm merchant shipping, we have fall
en- behind in other categorles. Yet
there are compromising factors An
increasing proportion of our planes
are heavy bombers. In addition to
the tanks and self-propelled artil-
lery, many thousands of scout cars
and half-and full-track carriers
have been produced which are an
essential to Well-rounded mechan-
ICED force as are tanks themselves.
Many, many thousands of anti-air-
craft machine guns have been
turned out
Moreover, the total volume OF
production for war has reached ire
mendous heights. In 1912 we shall
have expended some AZ billions for
munitions and war construction
which is substantially above the
most optimistic estimate of our
production possibilities year ago
The record is impressive, but
there is no cause for contentment
either in the total figures or in the
fact that we are now outproducine
the Axis in ornaments. The diff
culties which lie ahead are as many
or more than those which have been
surmounted.
A year ago the overriding prob
lem was that Of conversion of peace
time industry. BY and large that is
no longer a problem. Some months
ago the proper flow of raw mate
rails was the great problem. That
Is still with us, but steps have beer
taken which should go far towards
giving us a workable solution. The
foremost task now is to bring into
balance the myriad components o.
the program through proper SEIZED
uling and production controls.
The production tasks OF 1912 seen
easy compared to those which lie
ahead. In 1912 we were still living
off our peacetime fat. We are now
close to~the bare muscle and we car
only proceed by toughening and in
creasing that muscle. In the mex
year our program calls for SO grea
an increase in munitions production
that we shall have to produce two
thirds again as much as we did II
1912. We are pressing closer to ths
limits of our resources in materials
transportation and power. And il
the next year we shall have to pres!
close to the limit Of Our ultimate re
6ource--manpoWer
Millions in War Work
A year ago 100000 persons were
employed in war work. Now thu
total has risen to 17,500000 In 194
we will need to add at least s.,
100000 to our working and fight
ing forces. And by the end of tina
year nearly all of our working pop
ulation will be engaged in war worl
or in civilian work geared to tn
war.
In the year past our manpowe
problem was not one of nationa
shortage, but of local shortages AM
bottlenecks in critical areas. aggra
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