The union times., 1944-07-22
EveryDemandOf Troops Supplied, General Asserts
Our Armies Are Winning, But That Increases Need
 Of All Supplies

ences for writers on the na- tion's labor papers, t h u 8 recognizing the important role played by the labor press in the war effort.
 One conference was held by Major General Lucius D. Clay, director of materiel for the army, who has the job of seeing that the home front supplies what the fighting fronts need. He gave the labor newsmen a graphic pie ture of the army's production re- quirements.
 The other was by one of the de- partments topmost planners in military strategy who, in accord ance with a practice in the depart ment, remains anonymous, but whose comments may be quoted. He presented dramatic background material on the progress and stra- tegy of the war.
 Both men freely and courteously answered every query fired at them, so long as 1t didn't involve military secrets. Perhaps one of the most significant features of the conference was the answer given by both gen erals to a question posed by a repre- sentative of LABOR. That is what was asked:
 sHas there ever been an instance in which our soldiers and sailors found themselves without muni- tions to fight the enemy because of strikes or stOppages at hOme?"
 LABOR was prompted to put the query because it had just received a poem circulated by an anti-labor prOpagandist who evidently wanted to infiame soldiers against workers. The poem was supposed lament from a soldier in his grave. Its key lines read:
 q was in my muddy foxhole, bombs
 were falling from the air, While you back home were striking
 as if you didn't care. Weeks were lost, supplies were short,
 couldn't reach my goal, The enemy came in and killed me,
 in that hole"
 The obvious inference of that poem was that work stoppages have cost the lives of our fighters overseas, seri- ous charge If true. Similar accusa- tions have been made by labor-haters T1n+3o x,,1o,v <1o given by the army generals are high ly important.
 Here is what General Clay said: "We have met every demand for mu- nitions and supplies since the begin ming of the war. We are grateful for the production effort the country has made up to the present time"
 The general at the second press conference was even more emphatic.
 ''There has never been a case, SO far as we have heard, where our men lacked ammunition due to any strike or other lag in production at home."
 Of course that doesn't mean war production is in no way affected by strikes Organized labor is adhering to its "no strike" pledge. All trade unionistS deplore work stoppages, however short.
 But what happens is this, according to General Clay:
 In production, we aim to keep at least six months ahead of operations. We endeavor to foresee all our needs that far in advance" :"
 In other words, before Tank fight CTS go into action, the production line is geared months ahead of actual re- quirements The backlog is SO great that it would be impossible for the boys to run out of munitions be- cause of any strike.
 Thus, 1t is clearly "hooey" to claim that any soldier has been deprived of any weapon because of some tenn porary work interruption on the home front
 eve have enough supplies for all our present operations" General Clay said. "But monthly production has got to be stepped up to meet lions ahead of us."
 Some urgent items have slipped be- hind schedule, he declared. Among these he listed heavy military trucks, large field guns, power generators, crawler tractors, cranes and shovels, field wire and various radio equip ment.
 "For the remainder of 1914 no cut backs of any magnitude are in sight" he contended "On1v exDans;or looms ahead"
 General Clay voiced the fear that Allied successes in action would re- suit in letdown at home, and pointed out that, in fact, as the Allies go deeper into France, fighting forces will grow much larger and the de-. mand for supplies will become much heavier.
 'This hits us at a bad time," he conceded. "The summer months are always poor from a production stand point, particularly in hot and heavy industries where our need is greatest. Also, agriculture will be making a much-increased demand for man. power.
 ssAs a matter of fact, we are fac ing in the next three months the most difficult period from a pro- duction standpoint since the war began. We know that if the workers understand the situation, they will come through.
 "The greatest contribution they can make in these critical months is to stay on the job-or, where required