The union times., 1944-08-12
|OnTheScene
 Washington
By Travis K. Hedrick


 the peak of their demands for war materials of all kinds on X-Day- when Hitler surrenders to the might of the United Nations. Until then more and faster production will be needed to insure victory.
 That, Ill substance, was the kernel of long discussion of U. 5. produc- ton problems by Lieut.. Gen. Brehon Somervell, chief of army service forces.
 For instance, the present needs of the army call for truck production that is 10 times the normal peacetime output for the last half of 1914.
 Artillery output next January is scheduled to be 21a times the output rate for 1943.
 At the present time the fast-moving military situation in the various war theaters has the production schedule of combat and motor vehicles 209o behind schedule.
 On top of that, Gen. Somervell said, the maintenance backlog is go- ing up fast on all fronts and 1t is now to 3H months behind in repairs of the hard-working vehicles that mean transportation and life-blood to our fighters.
 In order to meet growing military needs, the production of artillery am- munltlon must be stepped up 33%o ; heavy ammunition 39%o heavy field artillery 249o and heavy truck 789o.
 Gen. Somervell, talking before a large press conference at the Penta- gon attended by several general officers and more than 100 reporters, said he believed this nation "has got to get back the sense of urgency we had year ago."
 Why" he said, do you know that there are 259o more tourists in north ern Michigan resorts now than year ago?"
 The theme of the generals talk was that encouraging victories in Europe, ln the Pacific and on the sea had re- suited in let-down in civilian effort in mistaken belief that the approach of victory meant we could take it easy.
 Nothing, he said, could be worse error, with commanders of U. s. forces and our allies crying for more and more bombs, ammunition, tanks, and some 320 vital categories of equip ment and supplies.
 Gen. Somervell said that deliveries for the first six months of 9144 aver aged only 1/10th of 1@o more than the' l943 monthly average and that forecasts for the next six months of 1914 call for average deliveries 14.5% above the 1943 average, and 174@o above June production" *
 October of 1914 is forecast as the present production peak, calling for deliveries of equipment 21.5%o above the 1943 monthly average and 24,6% above June, 1914.
 In the radio and radar field, tre- mendouS increases will be necessary. In one category the average for the last half of the year must be 265%o of that of the first half with a peak monthly production of 341.8@o over the average of the first half of the year" the general said.
 Owing to the effectiveness of the new portable flame thrower, there is a demand for an increase in this weapon requiring five times the pro- duct1on in the last half of the year that was achieved the first half"
 Because of Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur's rapid advances in the Pacific. which are ahead of schedule, there is need for great increases in cotton duck and tents.
 Explaining the unexpected need for more bombs for planes, Gen. Somer- yell said since the terrific power of the Luftwaffe has been cut down, the demand tor aerial bombs has sl1y- rocketed. Planes that once were able to make only one sortie a day now return time after time between sunup and dusk, to smash communications behind enemy lines. Like the heavy artillery, this increases the cost in labor at home; but 1t also reduces the cost in lives of our young men over- seas."
 Tt is the same all along the line Ii we're doing to keep down the cost of American life, then the cost in labor and in effort for everyone here