Evening star., 1943-01-08
bberProgranl
Facing Failure,
Jeffers Warns
Military Catastrophe
Pictured as Result
Of Further Delay
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

Rubber Director William M.
Jeffers said today that unless an
immediate green light" is given
to construction of plant facili-
ties for IS to 10 per cent of the
gigantic synthetic rubber pro-
gram, the Nation would face a
military catastrophe and COL
lapse of its transportation sys-
tenn.
The program, beset by delays in
obtaining priorities for vital ma
terials and equipment, right now is
so delicately balanced between sue
cess and failure that a good or bad
break in luck could throw it either
way, he added
Mr.. Jeffers, in an interview. also
revealed that it will not be neces-
sary at this time to invoke a ban
on pleasure or Sunday driving
throughout the Nation as a rubber
conservation move. He said that
the current gas rationing program
was reducing driving to the point
made necessary by the tight rub
Der situation. Unlike heavy trucks
and military vehicles, passenger cars
can be kept rolling for some time
through use of reclaimed rubber for
new tires and recaps.
Backs Pleasure Driving Ban.
OPA action outIawing pleasure
driving in the East was absolutely
essential to the conservation of
limited petroleum supplies along
the Atlantic seaboard, Mr.. Jeffers
emphasized.
Mr.. Jeffers disclosed that under
the most favorable of conditions it
will be long time before ordinary
motorists obtain any tire rubber
from the synthetic program. A go"
signal now for completion of IS to
Is per cent of the program would
assure production of about 600 1000
tons of rubber in 1914, he said. All
OF this will be needed by our armed
services. the armies of our allies and
to keep buses and essential trucks in
operation. Rubber for the motorists
will be provided in the last 80 to IS
per cent of the program, to be in
operation some time in the distant
future, certainly not until 1945.
The cause of Mr.. Jeffers' troubles
is a head-on collision between his
rubber program and the all-military
programs for production of aircraft.
naval merchant vessels and aviation
gasoline. The programs all compete
for the same fabricated components
SUCH as instruments of various types,
forgings, valves, condensers and
boilers.
Given Highest Priority.
A short time ago the War Produc-
ton Board with Army and Navy ap-
proval, gave the highest priority
possible-something called a "spe-
cial direction"-for completion of 20
per cent of the rubber program. This
order took precedence over every
priority except AAA ratings for ma
terlals for immediate delivery
and equipment for the African cam
palgn. A similar rating also was
given for 20 per cent of the high
octane program. Neither action was
publicized.
Mr.. Jeffers said this was not
nearly enough to assure him success.
His pleadings have failed to bring
further assistance. Some one high
up In Government will have to de-
eide between the relative Importance
OF the rubber program and the pro-
grams for aviation gasoline, ship
ping and aircraft. Although Mr.,
Jeffers did not say the matter was
up to the White House, the decision
undoubtedly will rest with President
Roosevelt. An odd angle in the dis
pute Is that the rubber for which
Mr.. Jeffers is fighting is used ex-
tensively in the other programs.
The rubber director and his dep
uty in charge of the synthetic pro-
gram, Col. Bradley Dewey, described
in detail the current rubber out
look. The Baruch report, the rub
Der Bible" figured on a reserve of
224, 900 tons of rubber in this coun-
try in the low-point of the crisis
the fall of this year. We already
have lost through delay 100000 tons
OF the expected inventory. A total
OF 120, 900 tons is needed to keep in
operation rubber fabricating plants
here, in Canada and England.
Every Source Included.
Col. Dewey said that "the reserve
will dip right down and kiss the
120,000-ton danger line. In fact, we
estimate We'll go 1000 tons below it. :"
The 120,000-ton disaster" dead
line in inventory, which Col. Dewey
hopes can be met next fall, includes
crude rubber from all sources, syn
thetics and rubber drained from
such plants as guayule. 1t includes
supplies Of crude anticipated from
South America, Ceylon and Liberia.
Mr.. Jeffers described conditions
which would result from further de-
lay in the synthetic program as
chaotic. He said factories making
tires for the Army and our Allies
would be forced to close, as we'll as
those which produce other vital
products of rubber. The factories
would lose already scarce manpoW-