Evening star., 1944-08-24
Wilson Resigns WPB
Post, B|ames Action
p, r-anfst -
On Nelson S Aides
Continued From r,ryt Page,

ate investigators last week that / !,
Gen. Brehon B. somervell, chief o
the Army Service. Forces. com
planned OF manpower. Shortages o.
the eve Of q recent cutback in air
plane production that release,
Thousands Of workers for other Jobs
Mr.. Nelson's statement, made a
closed session Of the Senate Wa
Investigating Committsss. was re-
vealed after Mr.. Nelson, agreed t,
publication Of his side in the rov
with military officials over recon
version.
Although acknowledging the nee
OF men 70 meet expanded require
nents Of specialized items, Mr.. Mel
son said In his testimony last weel
that virtually all critical munition
programs ARE being met"
He added that the remaining prob
lens would not be solved by let
ting loose blunderbuss agains
the whole manpower situation or b,
general edicts and broad limitation
on the use OF labor
Testifying that the airplane cut.
back would solve the manpowe]
situation in the forging industr,
completely, the WPB chief said, thu
Army had anticipated the cutbacl
for three months.
Cutback Statement.
He added that when Gen. Somer
veil was talking with War Mobili
zation Director Byrpes about tn,
great shortage of manpower. ant
so forth, told Gen. Somervell, .Yo,
have an airplane cutback comins
soon. probably next week.
Asked by Senator Ferguson IRE.
publican OF Michigan how h.
reconciled the manpower shortas,
statement and the subsequent cut.
back announcement, Mr.. Nelson re.
piled:
we Just don't, sir"
Release Of the testimony also dis.
closed a statement from Mr., Mel.
son that he is not kept informed
as to military reserves at the front
There are no figures available t.
us at all" he said. Once they leav,
storage In this country, you have M
figures available as to what thu
reserves are
Mr., Nelson paid a farewell visi
to President Roosevelt shortly be-
fore the announcement of Mr.. vii
sons resignation, and later, in re
sponse to questions by newsmen
said he did not consider his mission
TO China a kick In the teeth"
No Comment on Conversation.
Mr.. Nelson was in Mr.. Roosevelt.
once for an hour, but had no com.
ment on their conversation.
Mr.. Nelson consented to publica
ton OF his testimony after a so.
minute heartfelt heart talk with tn,
committee again yesterday.
What he told the committee about
the Presidents decision to send hin
to China was not disclosed.
However, members said he cav,
them the impression he was moi
opposed to the trip, and Sen.
ator Ferguson said he felt better
about the situation than he die
wheA he first heard of the Chin;
mission.
100000 Workers Needed.
Mr.. Nelson's side of his battle
with the military was released b,
the committee as the aftermath Of
earlier publication of testimony b,
MAJ. Gen. Lucius D. Clay, Arm,
materiel director, placing primar,
blame on manpower shortages fol
big deficits in heavy ammunition
and other items.
The decline in employment
Mr.. Nelson told the committee last
week, must be recognized as a de-
cline In labor requirements. even
though there is an urgent demand
for about 100000 workers in direct
war production and another 100, ,OoC
IN sustaining civilian production.
Our own estimate is that overall
manpower requirements will &c
down by at least another 800, 900 by
the end Of the year, even though
both Germany and Japan continue
at war with us and all our produc-
tion schedules remain in effect"
Mr.. Nelson said flatly that wal
production does not need more
than 100000 of the 10000 workers
already released from munitions in.
dustries. that war plants could not
employ the 100000 and that the
millions Still needed at their wal
jobs Should be given the assurance
that civilian jobs will be available
when war production eases up"
Factor of Stability.
Il feel quite confident that the
assurance that civilian production
is being planned in every area and
shop where it is not interfering with
war production would be regarded
as factor Of stability and security
by war workers, and therefore will
serve to defer any haste in leaving
war job" he said.
Asked about the Army's complaint
that people are deserting. wartime
for peacetime jobs, Mr.. Nelson re-
piled:
IT that is true, why haven't they
been gravitating into the tire indus
try? That is one of the best paid
industries in the country"
Questioned about the recent resig
nation of Rubber Director Bradle,
Dewey on what Mr.. Dewey said wa.
the completion of the rubber pro.
gram, Mr.. Nelson declared:
1T was completed, all but getting
the tires"
Then you don't agree that thu
Job was completed?" asked Commit.
tee Counsel Rudolph HALEY.
No, sir. 1t is like the Army say.
Ing they are completed except fol
the shooting"
1000 Take Steps 10 Quit