Evening star., 1952-01-07
Wilson Considers 81
Critical Year in Fight
To Produce Arms
By Froncis P. DouqIos

production to build it's defenses,
according to Defense Mobilizer
Charles E. Wilson.
There also will be "the severest
pinch" In critical materials, he
said, "and we can be sure the
pinch will continue into 1883"
Mr.. Wilson's statements were
contained in his fourth quarterly
report entitled 1.-THE Battle for
Production" issued last night.
Discussing that still-to-be-won
battle, Mr.. Wilson said we are
only now getting delivery from or
ders placed before the Korean
war for long lead-time items"
Lead-time means the period neces-
sary for planning, design and tool
ing which precedes actual pro-
duction.
Results Late in Year.
mot single plane that was
not in production before Korea,
for example, has been used in
combat there" Mr.. Wilson said.
The bulk of the orders for the
new weapons reached industry in
March and April of 1851, after
appropriations were available. We
are not seeing today-nor will
we see until late in 1952-the,
results OF this order placement" ~
He said the program emphasizes
weapons which are new and of
the highest quality and that for
many of these the lead-tim is
long.
Mr.. Wilson reaffirmed the both
guns and butter" program for
mobilization and this drew praise
today from two Senators in key
positions.
Hopes He'll Cut Spending.
Senator Edwin c. johnson.
chairman Of the Commerce Com
mittee, said Il like MIR. Wilson's
approach to the problem of
mobilization. but I hope he will
cut his $50 billion spending esti-
mate by about $40 billions year,
Mr.. Wilson has put the need
for military outlay at about $50
billion a year.
Senator O'Mahoney, chairman
Of the Joint Congressional Eco
nomic Committee, commented
that the policy of seeking to or
ganize the world for peace while
building the assembly line for use
If war should be thrust upon us,
is wise"
Mr.. Wilson's report indicated
that there is agreement that the
dangers which face us and the
need for strengthening our de-
lenses are as great-possibly even
greater-than a year ago.
Program Re-Examained.
Mr.. Wilson disclosed that in the
last few weeks there had been a
thorough discrimination by top
officials of the defense program
aIlu IIle reasons 1Or IL.
I'VE have concluded on the
basis Of this re-examination," he
said, that the essential facts
which determined the nature of
the defense mobilization program
q year ago have the same force
today. And the soundness of the
basic approach which we took a !
year ago has been affirmed"
But he said elsewhere that this
re-examination may result also
in a raising of certain of our mill
tary goals" The basic pattern of
the mobilization, however, would
not be altered, he added.
He said also that peak levels
Of output in many military items
may be maintained longer than
had previously been planned"
In contrast, production of some
articles has leveled off and. in
some instances, has been reduced.
Listed in this category were two
aircraft which had been in pro-
duction longest. the "super-ba-
zooka," several types of radar and
q variety of minor items.
by the end of 1882" Mr.. Will
son reported. I'VE should have
reached the leveling-o point in
all of our major items of military
equipment except aircraft. ForI
aircraft, 1852 will see the putting
in place of the tools. facilities and
materials which will guarantee the
peak periods to come"
Schedules Made Realistic.
Realistic production schedules,
tested as to feasibility. are now
being set, Mr.. Wilson said, adding
that the Defense Department S
list of weapons rated according toI
relative urgency has just been re-
ceived and priorities are being
assigned for machine tools for
top needs.
Machine tools, one of the most
serious bottleneckS, are now being
shipped at an annual rate of $500
million, Mr.. Wilson said, but by
the third quarter of the year
shipments are expected to reach
the rate of $1.25 billion year. He
cautioned, however, that some
machine tools most urgently
needed will not be ready for three
or four years.
Here is a summary Of the f.
nancial angles of the report:
Deliveries of military goods and
construction now amount to 81
billion a month. Total deliveries
since Korea for our own forces
and for our Allies have reached
$40 billion.
Economy Disturbed Little.
During 1851 equipment. supplies
and construction for the armed
forces amounted to SIG billion.
Orders have been placed for an
additional $40 billion, leaving $38I
billion anr,rnnriatnd still to be