Evening star., 1943-01-01
War ProductionU Up
Nearly -Four Times
Since Pearl Harbor
GouIs Held 'Funtostic'
Yeor Ago Approached,
Some Passed
BY Cambridee Associates.

BY Cambridge Associates.
Pearl Harbor was to the United
States, psychologically, what Dun
kirk was to England.
Before December 7, 1941, we had
talked complacently about becoming
the arsenal of democracy and had
gone rather comfortably about the
task 4 producing materiel for en-
battled friends and our own growing
| forces.
On December 8 we went to work
not as interested bystanders but as
fighting partners. The difference is
clear in the munitions output index
of the War Production Board No
vember. 1941, equals 100. Late in
1912 it was nearly 400.
Late last year we thought we
might be able to build $4,000 planes
in 1912. Then the President said we
must have $4,000. The Office of War
Information reveals that the IL
month total will be $4,000 airplanes,
1000 short of the fantastic" goal.
This shortage is largely accounted
for by the combat success of Ameri-
can heavy bombers and the conse-
quent decision to place more en-
phasis on bigger, more heavily ar
mored and better-gunned aircraft.
Tank Output Scars.
Late last year we talked about
tanks. Pictures were available. Some
were even being shipped. The num-
ber, however. was hardly sufficient
to serve even as a basis for COM
parison. During 1912, $4,000 tanks
and self-propelled artillery units
were turned out. and the later
models have already proved them
selves in action to an extent that
we need have no fear that Ameri-
can inventive ability is applicable
only to the arts of peace.
Guns were being talked about last
year and produced in fair quantity,
too. Today the flow is better than
fair. The exact numbers of the diff
ferent types is logical military
secret" but the owl discloses that
1900 anti-aircraft guns larger than
20-millimeter have been produced
Since this type was rather later in
getting into production than many
others, it is reasonable to suppose
that other kinds of ordnance have
been built with at least equal speed.
Supply Lines Big Problem.
Australia. it is reported, is be-
coming tired of hearing of our pro-
duction records, and to the boy
beset by Japanese bombers in a
New Guinea jungle it is no great
comfort to learn that 14O planes
were made that day back home in
the States. That is why our war
production report for 1912, rather
miraculous results though it shows,
cannot be taken as the record of a
job which Is done. 1t is a job well
begun, but our enemies have pro-
ductive capacity. too, capacity which
In the past has been frequently un-
derestimated They have far shorter
supply lines and some raw materials
resources which are not available
to us.
The supply problem is apparent
in the emphasis being placed on
merchant shipping. Approximately
$1,000 tons were produced by our
yards last year, and authorities are
fairly confident that this tonnage
can be doubled in 1943. At the same
time. however, our lines are being
constantly extended and the landing
of every additional soldier on for
eign soil means additional tonnage
to maintain him and make him an
effective" Nor has the U-boat been
conquered yet. The current drive Is
for the greater number Of escort
and patrol vessels, which the past
year has shown are badly needed.
In the early part Of 1942 there
was considerable criticism Of our
slowness In bringing into action the
potentialities Of the worlds greatest
industrial machine. Some OF these
criticisms were justified and helpful