Smyrna times., 1944-07-13
WAR PRISONERS
AID CANNERIES
Sussex County Canneries U.s.
ing German War Prisoners;
500 Still Needed
HELP SAVE CROPS

expected to be used in Delaware
during the next few weeks to help
the state reach its goal of 200, 000,-
600 pounds of processed foods for
the summer. Through special ar
rangements with the Rar Manpow-
er Commission, canneries which In
many cases are producing their
own crops, have now been permit
ted to use the prisoners in the field
for emergencies. Summers hot
spells, which are causing crops
throughout Delaware to ripen fast
er than had been anticipated, have
brought about an intensified drive
to get workers for the canneries to
help save vitallp needed food crops.
Less Than Estimated
Elmer H. Smith, War Manpower
Commission area director, an
nounced that approximately 5000
persons still will be needed through
the remainder of the season. This
figure is a reduction of more than
so per cent in the number of work.
ers originally estimated as required
when the War Manpower Commits
sion started its drive for cannery
workers early i'll the season. 1t
has ben brought about by obtain
ing the use of prisoners of war in
the canneries, by the recruitment
of workers from southern states,
and by the use of women, high
school boys and girls, and workers
who are spending their vacations
in canneries.
Help Save Crops
lone of the greatest factors in
the success of the War Manpower
Commissions plans for the Gamer
les this season has been the use of
the war prisoners" Smith said.
These men have been pushed into
the job through cooperation of the
officials of the Second Service Com
mand and have already helped to
save the pea crop and done work
in the wheat fields. Throughout
the lower part of Delaware, where
beans are now being picked, the
prisoners have been doing a fine
job. Augmenting the staff of
ordinary cannery workers, and
those Immigrant workers obtained
through our recruitment work, the
prisoners performed good job
and helped to save our valuable
crops"
Sign Up Workers
1t was also pointed out by the
area director that canneries in low
er Delaware are continuing to sign
up their ordinary workers for the
season in the same fashion as be-
fore priority referral was put into
effect by the War Manpower Com
mission on July 1. 1--WE are per-
hitting the canneries to operate as
they always have in signing up
their workers for the season, with
the provisions that they promptly
clear all workers records with the
United States Employment Service
Office nearest to their headquart-
ers. Where workers have been re-
quired quickly for the food pro-
cessing work, we have made the
usual arrangements and this ap-
pears to be working satisfactorily
for all concerned.
To Help Gamers
After the Manpower Priority
Committee meets to consider its
plans for the Class A, B and c en-
ployers of the state and to estab-
lish ceilings, We'll be ready to
formulate additional plans to help
the Gamers get the workers they
will Require for the peak seasons"
Reports from canneries throughout
lower Delaware, which have been
sent to the Army's Second Service
Command officials, through Col.
John J. Harris, and to the regional
and state headquarters of the War
Manpower Commission, indicate
that the prisoners of war have done
fine work in helping to save the
crops.