Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1951-06-22
DEFENSE DEPT.
MAKES REQUEST
FOR EXPANSION

GIlc OIuIidilCc DcpOC . IlCW
role as a key mission national
supply center on an active
basis, which was announced
May Is, was stepped up ma
Realistically late Wednesday
by a requested appropriation
of more than six million dol
lars, to be allocated by the
Department of Defense un-
der a probable congressional
grant.
The request was made by
George Marshall, secretary
of defense
The Lacarne installation is
destined to become a perma-
nent one, in view of the pend
ing appropriation, in the
opinion of Col. E. M. Webb,
who is awaiting further de-
tailed information concerning
the new expansion evolution
which will involve other Ohio
depots.
He said the actual money allo.
Gated to E. o. D. totals 6,263, 900,
which is to be used for new con.
Struction, major alterations for
present shops and improvements
for other existing operational
facilities.
Col. Webb and his staff mem.
berS were unanimous in the opiIl.
ion that the latest announcement
from Washington concerning E.
o. DIS advanced ordnance status
is the most important develop.
ment since it's establishment here
more than 80 years ago.
The new appropriation follows
rather closely on the heels of the
Defense Departments decision to
pull into this area all the major
facilities of the Frankford Arse
malt at Philadelphia, Pa. Tha
major change was to be effective
about August Is, meaning the
transfer of scores of trained me-
chanics from here to the easl
to prepare removal of heavy
equipment from the arsenal, to
be conditioned for service, at the
front lines, in the Lacarne shops
Last May Col. Webb told the
NEWS that the key mission pro
motion given E. o. D. lis thu
most significant in supply servic
es at Lacarne since it's compile
tion of World War II assignments
The new appropriations order
from Washington has, in his
opinion, confirmed that belief.
In his words, the tremendous
expansion here, already blue
printed, mot only increases Eric
Depot's prestige, advancing the
posts standing among other ord
nance installations, but also as
sureS a stable and balanced worl
load year, year in and out, fo1
possibly. many years to come"
To Serve Eastern Ports
The distribution mission will
include serving eastern ports o
embarkation with required over
seas supplies of the same ord
nance materiel.
Erie will continue to stor'
and maintain-in-storage larg,
quantity of the Army's war re
serve of field and antiaircraft al
tillery, supplying it, as ordered
to the using troops.
The expanded supply respons
bilities originally was estimate'
to mean an initial expenditure o
approximately $290,O0O for alter
ations to present warehouses pun
chase of new equipment, renta
of electrical accounting machine
and required rewarehousing. Thi
now has been multiplied by NOR
than 20 times that figure.
Erie's key personnel for thi
new activity will be sent t
Frankford on temporary duty L
study and obtain operating pre-
cedures and other pertinent ir
formation relative to the key mis-
sion and coordination with tn
national stock control point whic
is at Frankford.
Maintain Stock Control
The procurement of new item
required for the key mission froi
private industry will remain a re
Sponsibity of the national stoc
control point.
Frankford has been instructe
to revise shipping instructions S
that newly procured items @
manufacture will be diverted
Erie Ordnance Depot, to prepar
lists of items stocked there, an
to plan tentative shipment schee
uleS for forwarding material
Erie as soon as possible.