Evening star., 1945-04-06

/
in the war. But it does furnish the
starting point for estimating long
ranse war production here at home
after We day.
Two facts must be kept in mind,
according to military leaders:
|. The first combat troops to hit
he Western Pacific from Europe will
in general be supplied with new
weapons and other equipment fresh
from the United States because, the
Army says. that is the fastest way
to get them into action.
Byrnes Makes Estimate.
9 Not until many months after
We day will the bulk of the NUM-
tions from Europe pile up in the
Western Pacific. making it possible
to reduce the supply of new stuff
from the United States.
James F. Byrnes, the resigned war
mobilization director. says he
wouldn't be surprised if it took four
to five months" to move the left
over supplies from battle areas to
European ports, knock them down,
repair. recrate and ship them out.
In the confusion that follows the
wake of war" Mr.. ByrneS says,
" = = the men will move faster"
For that reason. his report makes
clear, the Army will have to get
greater deliveries of newly made mu-
nitions after We day than the Gov
ernment reckoned last fall when
Pacific operations were not so far
advanced.
Proba BILE Production Cut.
The planners say that production
eventually will be cut to a point in
keeping with the amount of mate
rial recovered in Europe. They
hasten to add, however, that this
does not mean 10 per cent cutback
will be ordered after We day
The 10 per cent of weapons and
supplies taken out of Europe may
make up only 10 or Is or 40 per
cent of what is needed in the Pacific !
Equipment to be left over in the
European theater of operations will
fall into several classes: |
l. Equipment to be taken by units
leaving Immediately for the Western
Facific-chief1y clothing. bedding,
shoulder weapons, smaller ordnance, !
divisional vehicles and armor.
2. Heavy items, including big guns
and engineering tools, in good con-
dition and needed quickly in the
Pacific.
3. Material needing repair or re-
processing, in either Europe or the
United States, before it is delivered
to the Pacific.
4. Material not essential to the
Pacific war but retained for Amer
lcaS' peacetime Army.
S. Material too worn out for re-
pair.
6. Items of no further use to the
Army but critically needed for Eu-
ropes peacetime primarily
clothing, food and vehicles.
Overall Figure.
The 70 per cent is an overall fig
ure. By types, the percentages of
recovery are expected to vary widely
from as high as 80 or 80 per cent
for big guns down to very small per-
centages for certain foodstuffs.
When division leaves Europe for
the Orient, its equipment will be
what the Army people call combat
serviceable." That is, ready to use
when it gets ashore-field guns re-
tubed, new treads on tanks and
trucks, motors overhauled or re-
placed.
The job of rehabilitating equip
ment has been under way in Europe
for some time Rebuilt French and
Belgian factories ale supplementins
Army facilities. They are working
on hundreds of millions of dollars
worth of contracts.
The Army expects large number
of its technicianS and mechanics to
stay on in Europe for months after
the bulk of the fighting men begin
moving out. They will be putting
war gear back in fighting shape and
Grating and loading it aboard ships
for American and Pacific ports.
Use Nazi Equipment.
The Army has been able to use
much captured German equipment,
especially trucks and telephones,
but it is not expected that that ma
teriel will be taken to the Pacific. /
In general, German equipment does
not measure up to American re-
quirements. Moreover. difficulties
arise over repair and replacement
parts.
Repair is not at all the whole job
of readying weapons for the Pacific
front Differences in battle and cli-
matte conditions between the two
theaters will require vast amounts
of modification and special process
ing
The rate Of deterioration in the
tropical and subtropical areas of