Evening star., 1943-12-28
Experienced Men
Are Concentrated
In Case ofCrisis
Tert OF Presidents Order, PAGE Al

BY the Associated Press.
Swiftly taking over physical
possession of the railroads, the
Army is concentrating troops
with railroad experience to sup
plement any possible manpoWer
shortages.
Secretary of War Stimson dis
closed the use of troops at a spe-
clal news conference.
Declaring that terrific dangers
confront the Nation if a strike is
carried out, Mr. Stimson announced
that seven railroad presidents had
been appointed colonels and were
ready to take over the operation of
as many divisions.
In addition, Martin w. Clement,
president of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, was named general adviser to
1t. Gen. Brehon Somervell, chief of
the Army Service Forces, and Mai
Gen. Charles P. Gross, Army di-
rector OF transporta ton, who will
operate the lines. Mr.. Stimson said
the two generals also would have
the assistance and advice of the
staff of the American Railroad AS
sociation, headed by John Pelley.
Trucks Are Ready.
Mr.. StimSon said an organization
had been set up to operate the rail-
roads and that wages and labor
conditions as of 7 o'clock last night
would be held in status quo" until
the railroads were returned to civil
ian management.
Gen. Somervell and Mr.. Stimson
declared emphatically that the rail-
roads would be kept operating.
Gen. Somervell said that in addi-
ton to having troops with railroad
experience ready to fill in on any
JOBS where necessary, the Army also
planned to use itskrucks should the
need arise and to make available
Army stocks of vehicles and food to
supplement any civilian shortages.
Mr.. StlmSon disclosed that work
on detailed plans for operating the
railroads had been under way before
President Roosevelt signed his order
for Federal operation at $40 pin.
yesterday. At o'clock Mr.. Stimson
was able to issue orders to zone
commanders of the nine service
commands to act
Operating Agreement Mapped.
Beginning at that hour. 672 Off
GERS had started out with orders to
take over each of more than 600
separate railroad organizations.
Two officers were assigned to some
of the major lines.
Gen. Somervell said an operating
agreement with the railroads had
been drafted and that I'VE are 60
ing over it with the railroads at this
time, but we do not wish to disclose
the details The agreement relates
to financial matters.
I'VE are to operate the railroads.
not to adjudicate any labor dis
putes involved" Gen. Somervell said.
we are not labor board. ANY
change in pay or labor conditions
will be effective only after roads
have been released from War De-
palImenL control.
The general said railroads in the
United States now were considered
Federal property and that sabotage
laws applicable to Federal property
applied to the railroads.
Asked about penalties in event of
strikes by railroad employees who
now become Federal employees. Gen.
Somervell and Secretary Stimson
said there were several laws" in
Guiding section 6 of the Antistrike
Act and conspiracy laws.
tSection of the antistrike law
states that when any facility is
IN the possession of the Govern
ment, it is unlawful to coerce,
conSplre or encourage any person
to interrupt operation through a
lockout, strike or other Interrupt
ton. 1t would not, however.
cover an individual who quit work
OF his own volitionD
New Colonels Named.
Railroad presidents appointed
colonels and named by Mr.. Stimson
to take over and operate various re-
glonal organizations included: Fred
erlck E. Williamson of the New York
Central, supervision Of the Eastern
division; R. B. White of the Balti-
more & Ohio, the Allegheny region:
William J. jerks of the Norfolk e.
Western Railroad, the Pochontas re-
glon primarily a coal-producing
region with headquarters at Roa-
noke, Va; Ernest E. Norris of the
Southern, the Southeastern region:
Ralph Budd of the Burlington, the
CentralWestern roads with head
quarters at Chicago; Charles E.
Denny of the Northern Pacific, the
Western region, and Lewis w. Bald
win of the Missouri Pacific, the
Southwestern region.
Noting that the Brotherhoods of
,Coo DATJD0hDC