The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-13


over two ships before they had
moved out Of a Maritime Commits
sion yard one to be converted
into a submarine tender, one q
destroyer tender. But the con-
version was protracted for eighteen
months, thus immobilizing the
ship ways and preventing other
construction.
Consequently, the Maritime
Commission feels II IL better TO
complete q ship according to
original designs, and get II out,
and require the Navy, II IL wants
to make changes, to make them
in its own yards.
In many cases, however, the
Navy does not decide to take
over until the ship is completed.
Then they tear out hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars Of new
equipment and cause delay In
completion.
There Is hard feeling between
the two agencies ON account Of
the hlde-b0uDd methc's Ot tne
Navy, which Is cluttered up with
officers and desks and bu-
reaucracy, and cannot move
rapidly. One officer comes in
and wants one change, and an
other wants another change, and
then along comes o retired An
napolls graduate, and he has
still other ideas.
With q little foresight, however,
both sides agree that this waste
could be remedied.
Still another difference in prac-
tice Is the size Of crews. The
merchant crew Is moderately large
(larger than in former years, be-
fore union regulations took eff
fect). But the Navy crews will be
twice as large, and the quarters
must be more ample. The Navy
Is reckless with manpower, be-
cause a man has to be paid
whether he Is serving at sea or
ashore. Also, when they get into
action with the enemy, they may
have to replace casualties, thus
need extra men.
JAP ZEROS NOSE-DIVE
In the early part Of the Pacific
battle, reports came back that Jap
zero planes were superior to ours.
That was true. But now, the
American public can rest at ease.
For reinsurance, consider the
latest story from the South Pa
cific: In operations over Buna,
Is American P-40 pursuit planes
engaged IS Japanese Zero planes
in o fight which was close
enough to be observed from the
ground.
In spite Of the fact that the
P-40s are an older type of Ameri-
can plane, these 16 were able to
destroy IS Of the ZeroS, which
hurtled through the air within the
sight of U. S. soldiers watching
the show.
Only one American plane was
lost, and its pilot was saved.
CRAZY WPB
Many people in washington
have said what they thought Of
the War Production Board be-
hind its back. But one man who
has told WPB members what he
though Of them straight to their
face is usually placid Commits
sioner Thomas H. Macdonald OF
Public Roads.
Tom Macdonald had his say at
a farewell party to WPB Vice.
Chairman James e. Knowlson.
For weeks, Macdonald had been
sidetracked, sabotaged, circim
vented in his roads program. But
now he had all his WPB enemies
in one place at one time. He
took advantage or 1t. Going up
TO the first man he met, Mac
Donald said:
SDo you work for the WPBS"
The answer was q nod. II Just
wanted 70 tell you that ] think
WIPE a q c0ck-eyed Organlza-
tlon, Now that I've told yOus
I'm going 20 ten q 10 some OF
these other fellows"
Macdonald moved on.
"Whnt Do yen mleAn." he de-
mamAed Of his meKt victim, by
letting Ernest KamEler Feaigns"
KnmHleP was Edsel RarA's broth
ersln,law. @hke was enc man
who believed On keeping bic word.
" he promised thing be ai0
a. Vet yes Iet him leave"
Macdonald was particularly sore
because he had been trying % gel
materials 10 repair the 81. Louis
Chicago highway, q trunk kiae
used BIZ thousands ~ trucks busbei
and defense workers.
"Why can't yeu iFmsi ihe state
hlghway departments - snftey