Evening star., 1947-07-30
Martin Says Kaiser
Claimed Access 10
Scarce Materials
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other to design and produce flying
boat twice or more as large.
This latter giant was to 60 into
production soon.
The expert testified, however, that
If such a ship were built on lines
of the Mars, still every basic part
that went into it would have to be
redesigned and tested for stress.
Senator Cain, Republican, ol
Washington asked If Mr.. Kaiser sale
he would employ his shipyards ii
the proposed combine.
II think he mentioned only hi
ability to obtain materials and hi.
production experience" was the re-
ply. He dwelt on the fact he coulc
obtain materials in short supply
and that if he was in charge of the
whole program he could save or
materials and build plants to turr
out later requirements"
Opposed to Pressure.
what reply did you give?" Sena'
tor Ferguson asked.
IT told him I was not interested
in any undertaking to force a pro-
gram upon the Army and Navy
above that already approved by the
Government. But If the Govern
ment so ordered, would be willing
to go along with him.
Senator Cain read from Mr.. Kai-
ser's prepared statement of yester-
day, in which he said Mr.. Martin
expressed a considerable interest in
the combine. He asked If this was
true.
Mr.. Martin replied, MY interest
was only in the Army Navy pro-
gram. had no other interest"
The aircraft builder said Mr..
Kaiser told him "he could get a
Government directive osorder me
to 60 into the enterprise" He added
Mr.. Kaiser did not specify who in
the Government would issue such
an order.
Mr.. Martin testified Mr.. Kaiser
said, "Mr. Douglas of Douglas Air
craft had already agreed to join
the combine of, several companies.
After Mr.. Kaiser left, called Mr..
Douglas on the telephone and
learned his position was much the
same as mine. We agreed it was not
for either of us to enter the plan
unless so directed by the Govern
rnent.
Il had every confidence in the
Arny-Navy plan"
Under questioning, Mr.. Martin
said it was Mr.. Kaiser's idea that
the Army-Navy plan had failed to
take into account the urgent neces-
sity for a great cargo fleet of flying
boats.
Senator O'Conor asked: His plan,
then, was a variance with the Army
and Navy?"
obviously at variance" Mr.. Mar
tin replied.
Mr.. Martin said Mr.. Kaiser did
not mention names, but declared he
could go to a high place in the
Government" and get the go-ahead
order. IT did not press him on this
point" Mr.. Martin said. That was
his business"
Difference on Time Factor.
The plane builder said that dur
ing the friendly discussion the two
of them differed widely on time it
would take to design, engineer. tool
and produce heavy aircraft of maxi
mum performance. Mr.. Kaiser
didn't know, Mr. Martin suggested,
that some 1900 outside sources of
supply must be called upon for
planes like the Mars.
The metal frame of such a plane,
he explained, is only a quarter of
the job, and after that there are the
tasks of fitting engines, instruments
landing gear and the like and test
ing the finished product on the
ground and aloft.
Some purchased items require "a
months to deliver, Mr.. Martin said.
Il told him I didn't know how to
build so many big airplanes in such
a short time" he added. Il told
MIN I knew of no way of obtaining
materials and finished components
out of thin air.
At this point Senator Cain said
he wished the record to show that
the Kaiser Hughes Corp. had SO
far failed to produce one plane on
it's original order for three flying
boats.
Senator Ferguson asked, Did he
indicate to you he wanted to take
over the whole production program
from the Army and Navy and do it
all himself?"
"He said if he could see the whole
supply plan he could make up the
shortages by reallocations and later
build his own plants to supply what
was needed" In other words, Mr..
Martin indicated, Mr.. Kaiser instead
of the Army and Navy would do the
overall planning on aircraft supply.
Later Suggestions Rejected.
Mr.. Martin said it took him three
years to build up his engineering
staff from 300 to a wartime peak
of 1890 and it took at least 18
months of engineering before actual
construction began on planes like
the Mars.
The witness said he rejected later
suggestions from Mr.. Kaiser that
RESORTS.
ATLANTIC CITY, N, J.