Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-04-28
Aero Gas Supply
Above Estimate,
ckes Testifies
BIomes Shortages
On Slowness in
Stating Needs
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

Petroleum Administrator Ickes
testified before the Truman
Committee today that despite
many Illustrations and "a really
battling lack of understanding
by many persons in high au-
thority," the current production
of aviation gasoline exceeds pre-
dictions OF requirements made by
the Army, although it is not las
much as we need"
Referring to the statement that a
lack of understanding by high
authorities had blocked expansion
OF high-octane production facilities,
Mr.. Ickes was asked by Chairman
Truman to name the responsible
officials.
Il would almost have to give you
a catalog of Washington, Senator, :"
Mr.. Ickes answered. Some were
military and some were naval. In
the final analysis we could not get
materials, and there is only one
ooSA " Va ldlO III w
and that is the WPB."
F0rrestal Takes Stand.
James V. Forrestal, Undersecre-
tary of the Navy, followed Mr.. Ickes
to the stand, expressing strong OPP
position to Rubber Director William
LETTERS power to issue Overriding
direct. sos' in the interest of the
rubber program.
Mr.. Forrestal did not specifically
charge that exercise of such power
actually had delayed the construc-
ton of destroyer escorts-the Nays
chief anti-submarine apon-but
he cited what he said were instances
OF plants in which the production
of valves and fittings essential to
building DE's held very low prior
lty rating in relation to the pro-
duction of values and fittings for
other programs.
The Navy" he added, has Moth
ing but good will toward the efforts
of Mr.. LETTERS and his assistants -
but 1t believes with the deepest con-
viction that to single out this or any
other program and to apply to such
a program a directive which gives
its promoter the right to move in
at will and disrupt schedules of all
other programs runs counter to the
maximum productivity of our ma
tional industrial machine"
To illustrate the harmful effect of
overriding material priorities on the
overall war program, Mr.. F'orrestal
pointed out that last year the Navy
was under great pressure to con-
struct more aircraft carriers. He
said at the time it would have been
the popular thing to have expedited
carrier construction at the expense
OF the battleship, which did not
seem so important. He said such
decision would have been faLal.
The fate of Guadalcanal and
the many thousands of gallant
Americans, in that bloodily con-
tested jungle would, in my opinion,
have been very different if two of
our newest, fastest and hardest hit
ting big battleships had not come
steaming into action on the night
OF November IA to smash into bits
very surprised Japanese fleet"
Doesn't Feel Shortage.
Mr.. Forrestal said he did not be-
lieve the Navy had felt the shortage
OF aviation gasoline which Under
secretary of War Robert P. Patter-
son declared had grounded some of
our. planes and weakened the air
offensive against Germany. The
Navy official added that he thought
MIR. Patterson was speaking from
the standpoint of apprehension as to
the future" in calling attention to
the shortage.
But If Mr.. Patterson's grounds
for apprehension are we'll founded.
and think they are, then we should
De apprehensive too" he declared
Chairman Truman adjourned the
hearing until Monday following Mr..
Forrestal's testimony. He said Rub
Der Director Jeffers will be called
on Monday and Mr.. Patterson
Tuesday, completing the portion of
the investigation open to the public.
Mr.. Ickes told the committee in
vestigating the rubber VS.. gasoline
controversy that slowness OF war
(See GASOLINE, Page A-6.)