Evening star., 1944-01-26
War Plants Revealed
I'm Peak Production;
More Shifts Planned
BY the Associated Press.

BY the ASSOCIATED Press.
Arms production, which began
months before the Pearl Harbor at
tack as the defense effort" and
soon changed to the war effort"
apparently has reached It's goal-vic-
tory volume.
That was the implication drawn
from the announcement Of Chair
man Donald Nelson of the War
Production Board last night that
December output totals had leveled
OF to approximately the same as
the previous month and that there
Is no overall increase planned for
this year, though there still will be
shifts Of major emphasis.
Mr.. Nelson's report, which dis
closed, among other production at
tainments, an impressive Navy rec
ord OF fighting vessels constructed,
brought out that instead OF the pre-
vious aims of more and more, some
war tools would be produced in
greater volume, others in lesser and
general production would continue
at 1943 levels.
Ship Record Impressive.
The Navy, he said, had these new
ships either in action or ready for
1t at the end OF last year:
Two 45,000-ton battleships, IL
cruisers, is aircraft carriers, so car
rier escorts, 128 destroyers, 306 de-
stroyer escorts and Sc submarines.
The Navy goal is a so per cent
boost in tonnage for 1914.
Other increases this year will be
in aircraft, IS per cent; ships in
general, 20 per cent, and signal and
electronic equipment, IS per cent.
However, there will be a down.
ward trend in production for the
ground forces; supplies of most
critical materials and critical COM
ponents. such as valves and heat
exchangers, have been obtained and
Liberty ship production, which
made up about two-thirds of the
1943 production, will be less than
half Of the 1914 total.
But. Mr. Nelson added, "the job
ahead will continue to demand
maximum effort and ingenuity
from labor, management and Gov.
eminent"
Solved ajor Problems.
Declaring that the Nation has
definitely solved the major problems
involved in mass-production OF mu-
nitions" the WPB chiefs monthly
production communique reported
that four of the six major munitions
programs declined in December
ships, guns and fire-control equip
ment, ammunition, combat and
motor vehicles. Two programs were
up-aircraft and communication and
electronics equipment.
The fact that production held
abreast Of November was attribut-
able largely to per cent increase
in the tonnage of war planes, Mr..
Nelson said. The number of planes
delivered. 1902. was a gain of only
l3 aircraft over November, but there
was growing emphasis on heavier,
long-range planes.
The lack of an increase at the
year end in total munitions pro-
duction reflects the fact that, in
the main. the war production pro-
gram is now in high gear and has
settled down for the long pull" Mr..
Nelson said.
Aircraft to Be Expanded.
Aircraft will be expande d
throughout 1914, Mr.. Nelson de-
clared. A IS per cent tonnage in
crease over l943 production is
planned, including spares and parts.
Approximately 100000 planes will
be turned out in 1914, compared
with the S5,9l9 planes delivered in
1913.
Landing craft for invasion pur-
poses are slated for a rise of more
than ITS per cent over 1943, Mr..
Nelson reported, adding that the
1914 cargo ship program will not
be much larger than 1943's, but
its makeup will be quite different" !"
The mass-produced Liberty ships,
which made up about thirds
Of the 1943 tonnage. will be less
than half Of the 1914 total. The
emphasis will be on better, faster
ships.