The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-02-13
Observations
Farm Machinery
Output Not up
to Schedule
rrnr - 10 u \
BY HELEN EssARY

duction programme farm ma
chinery outputs also worrying
War Production Board officials
and the nations farmers.
There is wide margin in latest
figures released on farm machin-
ery between production schedules
and actual output Of items badly
needed by farmers for spring work.
Corn, cotton and potato planters
fell sol per cent behind schedule
in the latest figures from WIPE,
and spring tooth harrows dropped
PCS per cent. other lags included
milking machines, 1874 per cent
breeders, 39.6 per cent, and ma
nure spreaders, SEQ per cent.
OF 90 types reported by WPB
only two are up To- or ahead OF
production schedules.
Chances are not too bright for
satisfactory solutions for the prob,
lem. at least not immediately.
The Army and Navy are planning
TO ask Congress for funds TO eX-
pand Americas rocket program.
After Representative Ninson Cd
of Georgia. chairman of the House
naval committee, told Congress
such demands may be forthcoming
from the Navy, il was disclosed
that the Navy will spend about 100
million dollars a month on rocket
manufacture in 1915.
The Army plans to spend about
IL million dollars monthly for roc
ket production, which indicates
their use will take an increasing
part in American warfare.
Some military observers in
Washington believe that Army
forces may be getting ready to set
up a Bog base in the Phi 'lippines
to help step up the aerial warfare
against Japan and her stolen Pa.
cific possessions.
Speculation to this end was
caused by disclosure that Brig.
Gen. Haywood Hansell. Jr., was
shifted from command of the 21st
Bomber Command on Saipan and
brought back TO Washington for a
secret assignment.
Hansell is credited with estab
fishing the Bog setup in the Mar
ianas from where the Superforts
are increasing their attacks on the
Japanese home islands.
Clark field on Luzon could be
used as one base for the huge
American bombers. Capture of the
field came shortly after the shift
Of Hansell.
B-29s eventually may operate
also from Alaska and the Aleutians.
49,
NJ. L. Fredmore, chief OF the az.
riculture division OF the treasury's
War Finance division, asserts that
the huge War Bond investment by
the nations farmers during the
Sixth War Loan drive has put ag-
riculture in its strongest position
since before World War !.
Fredmore discloses that total
War Bond sales 10 American farm.
ers in the recent drive top the to-
tai money crop of the country for
he l0-year period Of 1930-39.
Their purchases amount to S3.7OO.-
100000, he estimates, and the total
i0-year crop is put at s3,100.00o,-
700.
This huge War Bond investment
1as put agriculture in the strong.
EST financial position since before
World War L. he declared. Uurg.
ng farmers 10 continue to invest
all funds above necessary farm and
'amily expenses in War Bonds,
Fredmore added:
I'm this way they can build I'D
an investment that will assure the
'unds needed TO put their farms in
efficient condition after the war
4 these improvements can be H.
danced out OF current income, then
rhe War Bonds can be held as
valuable investment"
Despite all the official talk about
ban on civilian travel there is lit.
lie likelihood that civilian travel
will be rationed or restricted. The
ask OF imposing civilian curbs
would be so enormous that the Of
Ice of Defense Transportation is
rankly and openly unwilling 20
.ackle Il.
The main stumbling block to such
move would be the manpoyer
problem. 1t would take a lot OF
personnel to administer and en-.
'orce a ban on non-cssential gal
wanting.
The difficulties In the way of de-
'iding which travel is necessary
md which is not are also almost
Insurmountable. ODT officials
,lan to content themselves with
irging the public to stop travel
ng and let II go at that.
WAsHINGTON-AP- Chairman