The midland journal., 1943-01-22

bIF0 Vn SSN =
As Axis Arma
Before this year ends
creased to 10000, 900 Q
war effort that will p
tanks, IS, 900 anti-aircraft guns, I
Musso in their respective places.
This is the year when Americ
that it can do next to, or even,
weapons for victory over the A,
For some time the gigantic ma
chinery of American industry was
slowly gaining speed. There was
temporary confusion.
Soon, though, the might and power
of America hard at work began to
be felt as the armed forces Of the
nation began to make glorious use
of weapons rolling from unusual pro-
duction lines, steel mills, automobile
plants, and converted peace-time
manufacturing plants. Today there
is hardly person whose work is not
at least closely tied up with the ma
tional armament production plan.
Speaking in the nations Capt.
tol, Secretary Of Commerce
Jesse Jones said: eve are al
ready outproducing our Axis
enemies and are only now ap-
preaching peak production in
certain essential military eatego-
ries. While 1943 will be a real
test of the ability Of American
productive genius to supply our
own armed forces and those of
our Allies, past performances
give us every ground for con-
fidence that the high goals fixed
by the President will be
achieved"
That program, which was shown
in part at the beginning, calls for
total expenditure of at least $53, ,O00,-
100000 by June 30, this year.
Where 5000 planes a month was
the schedule for 1912, the 1943 output
will be more than twice that. I'm
1910 only 500 a month were pro-
duced.)
During 1912 the shipbuilding indus
try produced over 100000 tons of
shipping. The goal for 1943 is twice
that amount. "A total Of 10000, 900
tons would be equivalent to Is per
cent of the entire merchant marine
of the world when the war broke out.
Over a. year ago it took almost 180
days to construct a Liberty ship"
American inventiveness, ingenuity
and efficiency have whitfield that
time down to 56 days, and there is
no doubt even that time will be fur
ther cut down.
Not SO long ago Donald Nelson
spoke before the National Associa-
ton of Manufacturers and said: cat
this moment the United States is
producing combat armaments in as
great a volume as all the Axis pow
ers combined A year from now
(this year, '43) it will be producing
twice as much; and the United Ma
tions as whole will be out-producing
their adversaries by a margin of
three to one."
The automobile industry, after
re-tOOling for war production, be-
gan to get in its main stride
toward the middle of 1912. Even
then, before it was in complete
working order, it turned out war
equipment valued at $4,000, ,000,-
600, equivalent to $500, 900 pas
Senger cars and trucks, or 3,000,-
900 more than it turned out in the
historic, prosperous year 1929.
Farmers of America, as Secretary
of Agriculture Wickard said else
where on this page, are making
superhuman efforts to make 1943 a
greater production year than was
the giant 1912.
This year farmers will have fewer
farm hands than last year; more of
his family will be helping. Labor
shortages. have already shown in va
rious sections of the nation, but Man
power Commissioner McNutt has
come to the aid by bringing in tran
sient farm help whenever and wher-
ever possible. About the only COM
modify farmers are not asked to
produce more than they did in 1912
: are grain cereals for bread and food
stuffs. The granaries of America are
filled to the overfiowing. There will
be plenty of bread, and similar prod
ucts not only for Americans, but
neighbors' who need it, Allies and
lend-lease friends. #